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PM SHEHBAZ CALLS LITERACY CORNERSTONE OF NATIONAL PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | 25 Rabiul Awwal, 1448
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PM CALLS LITERACY A NATIONAL AND GLOBAL PRIORITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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SAYS GOVT WORKING TO EXPAND INCLUSIVE, QUALITY EDUCATION AND RAISE LITERACY RATE
NAVTTC BEING STRENGTHENED TO EQUIP YOUTH WITH MARKET-ORIENTED SKILLS, SAYS PM
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ISLAMABAD
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DAANISH SCHOOLS HELPING DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN ACCESS QUALITY EDUCATION: PM
PM STRESSES WOMEN'S EDUCATION, CLIMATE AWARENESS TO ACHIEVE INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
MIAN ABRAR
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said literacy played a pivotal role in determining the quality of life of individuals and nations and in charting the course towards progress and prosperity in every sphere of life. He said promoting literacy and fostering cooperation in education and learning must undoubtedly remain an individual, national and global priority, so that the shared interests of humanity and positive values such as peaceful coexistence might be strengthened and promoted. In a message on International Literacy Day, the prime minister said Pakistan joined the international community in paying tribute to the spirit of learning and teaching, and to the quest for knowledge. “This year, International Literacy Day is being observed under the theme, ‘Literacy for People, Planet and Prosperity. The theme highlights a powerful message that literacy empowers and enlightens individuals while enabling societies to move towards the goal of sustainable development,” PM Office Media Wing, in a press release, quoted him as saying. The prime minister opined that literacy is not merely counting people in a country who can read and write rather it is a means of transforming our ideologi-
cal, religious, social, economic and national foundations into a brighter future. The journey towards realizing the true benefits of education, learning and literacy is, in essence, an endeavour to shape and empower the future generations, he stressed. At the national level, he mentioned that the government was committed to ensuring equal, inclusive and quality education for all, with particular emphasis on digital literacy, skills development, re-
NEPRA clears key hurdle for competitive power market, 400MW auction next PROFIT
AHMAD AHMADANI
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved a uniform structure of Use of System Charges (UoSC) for power bulk consumers of distribution companies and K-Electric, clearing a major hurdle for the launch of Pakistan’s competitive electricity wholesale market. According to NEPRA, the decision has been sent to the federal government for notification in the official Gazette within 30 calendar days, as required under Section 31(7) of the NEPRA Act. If the federal government fails to notify the decision within the prescribed period, NEPRA will notify it in the official Gazette itself. The decision is expected to pave the way for the federal government to auction 400 megawatts of electricity in the first phase under the competitive wheeling framework, compared with the 200MW initially planned. The move is being seen as an important step towards changing the way electricity is bought and sold in Pakistan, allowing eligible industrial consumers to purchase power from suppliers of their choice instead of depending solely on the traditional single-buyer system. NEPRA took the decision after examining proposals and comments submitted by the Power Division, Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO), KElectric and other stakeholders on the determination and settlement of UoSC.
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Rs 50.00 | Vol XVII No 164 | 52 Pages | Islamabad Edition
search and innovation. He said the Federal Government was working with provincial governments and relevant stakeholders on a comprehensive strategy to increase the literacy rate across the country and provide students enrolled in the education system with education aligned with the demands of the contemporary world. In particular, the federal government had launched special programmes to enroll out-of-school children. Initiatives
such as the Daanish Schools reflected their commitment that a child’s access to quality education should never be determined by his or her socio-economic circumstances, he added. The prime minister observed that by providing free and quality education to children belonging to deserving and disadvantaged segments of society, particularly orphans, these institutions were helping nurture talent, build confidence and open pathways to a better future. “Such efforts reflect our resolve to make quality education a means of social development and national inclusion,” he maintained. Alongside providing educational opportunities, he said the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) had been made more effective and dynamic to equip their young workforce with globally competitive, internationally recognized and market oriented skills. This would help open pathways to dignified employment, entrepreneurship and expanded economic opportunities for their youth, he said, adding by strengthening the linkage between education, skills development and the evolving requirements of the labour market, they could enable young people to become active partners in the economy and in Pakistan’s socio-economic development.
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Sharjeel Memon slams federal ministers over calls for new provinces KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Monday criticised federal ministers advocating the creation of new provinces and administrative units, accusing them of holding “Form-47” mandates rather than being genuine public representatives. Speaking in the Sindh Assembly, Memon described recent statements by federal ministers regarding new provinces and the 18th Constitutional Amendment as “extremely regrettable”. He took aim at Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, saying that those questioning the 18th Amendment or provincial powers should raise their concerns in parliament instead of making statements in the media. “You can make statements in front of the media or in public gatherings, but if you really have an argument and a position, then come to the assembly and speak,” he said. Memon urged the federal ministers to first seek a public mandate through elections before
'Petrol Bomb': Petrol price jumps Rs12.90 to record Rs358.77 per litre ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The government on Monday increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs12.90 and Rs3.72 per litre, respectively, amid volatility in international oil markets. Under the revised rates, petrol will now cost Rs358.77 per litre, while HSD will be priced at Rs381.77 per litre. The new prices will take effect from September 8, according to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division. The increase comes as the government has shifted to a daily petroleum pricing mechanism aimed at reflecting fluctuations in international oil prices more quickly. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has also started publishing daily petroleum prices on its website to improve transparency and facilitate the timely transmission of changes in global oil prices to consumers. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the daily prices would be determined on the basis of a seven-day average of international oil prices, in line with international practice. The government decided to introduce the daily review mechanism amid heightened volatility in global oil markets following renewed hostilities in the Middle East. It had earlier shifted from a fortnightly to a weekly fuel price review after the conflict in the Middle East began on February 28, when Israel and the United States attacked Iran, prompting Tehran to shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies. Tensions increased after a fragile truce between Tehran and Washington collapsed in June, raising fears of a renewed full-scale conflict and disruptions to energy flows through the strategic waterway. Under the new framework approved by the federal cabinet, Ogra will issue daily ex-depot prices for petrol and HSD based on the average international market prices recorded during the preceding seven days. The regulator will be authorised to announce daily fuel prices without seeking prior approval from the prime minister or the federal government. However, prices notified on Fridays will remain unchanged on Saturdays and Sundays.
Pakistan rejects India's claim on Kashmir, reaffirms disputed status ISLAMABAD
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
making decisions concerning the country’s future. “People sitting on charitable or artificial mandates cannot make the decisions of the nation,” he remarked. Defending the 18th Amendment, Memon said the provinces had gained greater autonomy after its passage and had made progress in health, education, energy and other sectors. He said Sindh had particularly advanced in healthcare, education and infrastructure, citing the establishment of universities and modern medical facilities in cities such as Sukkur. The minister expressed concern that federal ministers were now speaking against an amendment that had strengthened provincial autonomy.
He urged them to examine the benefits of the 18th Amendment and assess the provinces’ performance before criticising the constitutional arrangement. The debate over new provinces intensified in late July after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called for additional administrative units to address what he described as shortcomings in the country’s existing governance structure. The proposal has since triggered strong reactions from political parties, particularly in Sindh. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which governs Sindh, on Saturday reiterated its opposition to the creation of new provinces or administrative units that would alter the province’s constitutional status.
Pakistan on Monday rejected India’s assertions regarding the status of Jammu and Kashmir, saying New Delhi’s unilateral claims of sovereignty could not alter the territory’s internationally recognised disputed status. The Foreign Office (FO) response came after India objected to any depiction of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh that differed from its “official map” following a United Nations resolution endorsing the use of a new cartographic projection. FO Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said India’s claims were “baseless” and contrary to internationally recognised facts. “India’s unilateral actions and continued illegal occupation cannot alter the internationally recognised disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. The spokesperson said the Kashmir dispute remained one of the oldest unresolved issues on the agenda of the UN Security Council. He maintained that relevant UN resolutions provided for the final disposition of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with Security Council resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people, expressed through a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices. “The official UN maps, which depict Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory, remain the only cartographic representation of its current legal status,” Mr Khan said.
Gohar warns against 'hasty' decision on creation of new provinces ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday cautioned against any “hasty decision” on creating new provinces, warning that dividing existing provinces without consensus could weaken the federation. Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, he said any move to divide one of the four provinces against the wishes of its people and elected representatives would undermine national unity. “Let a consensus be formed first; a commission should be set up on it, and deliberations should be held,” Gohar said, adding that the issue should ultimately be reviewed by the next parliament and settled through consensus among public representatives. He said the process should follow the example of the broad political agreement reached during the passage of the 18th Constitutional Amendment in 2010. “Any decision, if taken, should be made after that. Making any hasty decision, in our opinion, will be against the federation’s
unity,” the PTI chairman said. Gohar warned that creating provinces on grounds unacceptable to the people and without political consensus could generate further complications rather than address governance problems. He also opposed what he termed further “experimental trials” and controversial legislation. Meanwhile, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas questioned why the issue of new provinces was being raised without any formal discussion in parliament or the provincial assemblies. “Neither the federal cabinet has made the decision, nor have the National Assembly or Senate or the provinces discussed it,” Abbas told journalists. He questioned the origin of the proposal and said the PML-N’s party policy remained silent on the matter. The TTAP leader urged the government to bring all political parties together and develop a collective position, saying the opposition would support efforts aimed at constitutional supremacy and national stability. Abbas also questioned whether any ex-
isting provincial assembly had passed a resolution seeking the creation of a new province, as required under the Constitution. He said the opposition’s priority was instead to strengthen local governments and ensure free and fair elections. The debate over new provinces intensified in late July after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called for the creation of new administrative units as part of governance reforms. The proposal has since triggered differing positions among political parties and lawyers’ bodies. The MQM-P, a coalition partner of the federal government, has long demanded that Karachi be separated from Sindh and made a province, while the PPP, which governs Sindh, has strongly opposed any division of the province. The PPP and PTI, meanwhile, have previously supported the creation of a South Punjab province. On Saturday, the PPP’s Sindh leadership urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to restrain federal ministers from making statements regarding the creation of new provinces. Naqvi, however, reiterated his position,
arguing that Pakistan’s growing population and changing needs could no longer be effectively managed through the existing administrative structure. He stressed that any creation of new administrative units must be carried out within the constitutional and legal framework, with political consensus
and the consent of the people. A senior government official has previously indicated that serious discussions were underway within government circles over possible approaches to creating new provinces, with the debate potentially linked to a proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment.
02 NEWS
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | ISLAMABAD
PAKISTAN ISSUES INTERNATIONAL TENDER TO EXPORT 107,739 TONNES OF SUGAR IMPORTED LAST YEAR
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PROFIT
MONITORING REPORT
HE Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has issued an international tender to sell and export 107,739 metric tonnes of white refined sugar from stocks imported last year, European traders said on Monday. The deadline for submitting price offers is September 28. The tender follows the Economic Coordination Committee's (ECC) approval on August 20 to invite international bids for the export of 108,000 tonnes of surplus sugar held by TCP. The stock represents the remainder of 300,000 tonnes imported last year on the recommendation of the Steering Committee on Sugar, constituted with federal cabinet approval. The tender process is to be conducted under the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority
Rules, 2004. The decision comes as the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) has been pressing the government to permit exports of surplus sugar, arguing that ex-
Mobilink Bank extends deadline for offer to acquire Apna Microfinance Bank PROFIT
NEWS DESK
Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited has extended the deadline by 90 days for making a public offer to acquire shares and control of Apna Microfinance Bank Limited, as negotiations over the proposed transaction remain ongoing. According to a notice submitted by Arif Habib Limited, manager to the offer, the original deadline for the Public Announcement of Offer (PAO) was September 8, 2026. The deadline has now been extended to December 7, 2026. Mobilink had published its Public Announcement of Intention (PAI) on March 12 regarding the proposed acquisition of shares and control of Apna Microfinance Bank. Arif Habib Limited said negotiations and discussions between the parties were still underway and they were continuing to work towards finalising the transaction. As a result, Mobilink Bank would not be able to make the public offer within the initial 180-day period prescribed under Regulation 7(1) of the Listed Companies (Substantial Acquisition of Voting Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2017. The microfinance bank has therefore exercised its right under the regulations to extend the PAO period by a further 90 days and informed the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and Pakistan Stock Exchange accordingly. The proposed acquisition dates back to March 10, 2026, when Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited announced its intention to acquire shares and control of Apna Microfinance Bank under Pakistan's takeover regulations through Arif Habib Limited, manager to the offer.
Pakistan Services Limited says unaware of reported Pearl-Continental hotels split PROFIT
NEWS DESK
Pakistan Services Limited (PSL), the listed company that owns and operates the Pearl-Continental hotel chain, said on Monday it had no knowledge of reports about a purported split of its hotel properties and had received no information from any shareholder regarding such an arrangement. The PSL issued this clarification through a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday. The clarification follows a report by digital media outlet Nukta that five Pearl-Continental properties could be divided between Thatta Cement and Fauji Foundation under a proposed out-of-court settlement of a prolonged dispute over control of roughly 56% of PSL's voting shares. However, PSL said it had no knowledge of the contents of the report and had not received any information from any shareholder on the matter. "We would like to clarify that the Company does not have any knowledge about the contents stated in the story nor has it received any information from any shareholder about this matter," PSL said, adding that it was therefore not in a position to comment further.
cess inventories and depressed prices are putting financial pressure on mills and sugarcane growers. On August 13, PSMA sent its third letter to National Food Security and Re-
search Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, warning of a potential liquidity crunch ahead of the next crushing season and seeking immediate permission to export excess stocks. According to the association, Pakistan had 3.171 million tonnes of sugar stocks as of July 31. Based on average monthly consumption of 564,196 tonnes, it estimated that around 1.974 million tonnes would be required to cover domestic demand for the three-and-a-half months to November 15. PSMA consequently projected that around 1.197 million tonnes of sugar could remain in stock when the next crushing season begins, and has argued that allowing exports would help reduce the surplus and improve liquidity in the industry. The TCP tender, however, relates specifically to previously imported government-held sugar stocks rather than the wider surplus held by the domestic sugar industry.
FBR sets stage-wise deadlines to clear backlog of deferred sales tax refunds PROFIT
MONITORING REPORT
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced stage-wise timelines for processing deferred sales tax refund claims, directing field formations to clear pending cases and prevent a further buildup of refunds under the FASTER system. The move follows prolonged delays in claims that were deferred by FASTER after completing prescribed validation checks but remained pending with field formations, largely because of missing documents and delays in subsequent processing. Under the new instructions, a deferred memo will be sent through FASTER to the taxpayer and relevant field office after completion of 12 validation checks or cycles. The
field office will then have to ask the taxpayer to submit the required records within seven days. If the taxpayer fails to comply or submits incomplete documents, the department will issue an objection memo followed by reminders. Continued non-compliance will lead to proceedings for issuance of a show-cause notice. The procedure also requires replication and verification of refund claims through STARR before cases are processed and submitted to the sanctioning officer. Examination and sanction of admissible refunds, issuance of Refund Payment Orders (RPOs) and show-cause notices will also have to follow prescribed timelines. FBR has directed all Chief Commissioners Inland Revenue to ensure compliance with the new schedule, saying the measures are
intended to expedite deferred refunds and address taxpayers' concerns over prolonged pendency. Refund claimants will also be required to provide a prescribed set of records, including their sales tax registration number and NTN, sales and purchase invoices, import and export Goods Declarations, monthly returns with annexures, bank details, sales registers and documents establishing compliance with Section 73. The receiving or processing officer will verify the availability of the required documents when a refund file is received and record any deficiencies. FBR clarified that the prescribed timelines will not apply to claims relating to excess carry-forward amounts and input tax carried forward under Section 8B of the Sales Tax Act, 1990.
PSX clears SE fruits & vegetables to raise up to Rs1.92 billion through IPO PROFIT
WEB DESK
SE Fruits & Vegetables Limited has secured approval from the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) to proceed with an initial public offering of 30 million ordinary shares. The offering represents 32.01% of the company’s post-IPO paid-up capital and could raise between Rs1.2 billion and Rs1.92 billion. Shares will be offered at a floor price of Rs40 apiece, which may rise by up to 60% through book building to a maximum strike price of Rs64. Under the issue structure, institutional and high-net-worth investors will be offered 22.5 million shares, or 75% of the issue, through book building. The remaining 7.5 million shares will subsequently be offered to the general public. Topline Securities Limited and Growth Securities Limited have
been appointed lead managers for the transaction. The horticulture exporter intends to use the bulk of the capital to address working-capital constraints that have prevented it from meeting overseas demand. Around Rs940.2 million, or 78% of the funds raised at the floor price, has been allocated for working capital. A further Rs153.8 million will be invested in cold-chain and processing facilities, while Rs50 million will finance the establishment of international offices in the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan. Planned investments also include Rs30 million for enterprise resource planning and asset-tracking systems and Rs26 million for solar power and grid infrastructure. The company’s seasonal kinnow-processing capacity currently stands at 36,000 tonnes. It has indicated demand of approximately
65,130 tonnes from existing and prospective foreign buyers, but exported only 5,115 tonnes of kinnow during FY2026. SE expects the deployment of IPO proceeds to help narrow this gap and substantially increase its turnover. Its projections place FY2027 revenue at Rs5.05 billion, an increase of around 137%, with profit after tax forecast to rise approximately 124% to Rs680 million. The company has estimated FY2027 earnings per share at Rs7.25. SE reported net revenue of Rs2.133 billion in FY2026, up 24% from a year earlier, while profit after tax reached a record Rs303.8 million. It has carried no debt since FY2024. Revenue expanded at a compound annual growth rate of around 28% between FY2022 and FY2026, while profit after tax grew at approximately 31% annually over the same period.
PSX tumbles as regional tensions rattle investor sentiment PROFIT
NEWS DESK
Bears dominated trading at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday as renewed US-Iran tensions weighed on investor sentiment, with tit-fortat strikes on vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz raising concerns over prolonged disruption to Middle Eastern energy supplies. According to the PSX website, the benchmark KSE-100 Index opened under pressure, falling as much as 858 points in early trade. Selling accelerated in the second half of the session, pushing the index to an intraday low of 173,603.75. Selling pressure was visible across major sectors, particularly energy stocks. Automobile assemblers, auto parts, cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration and marketing companies, pharmaceuticals, power generation, refineries, and cable and electrical goods largely traded in the red. At close, the KSE-100 was settled at 173,636.07, down by 1692.75 points, or 0.97%, from the previous close of 175,328.82. Monday's downfall followed a difficult past week for equities, with geopolitical tensions remaining the dominant drag on sentiment. The benchmark lost 2,368 points, or 1.3% WoW, to close at 175,329 on Friday. Despite the near-term pressure, three major brokerage firms expect Pakistan's equity market to regain momentum on the back of improving economic fundamentals, corporate earnings and the upcoming IMF review. However, they see continued geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran conflict as the principal near-term risk to the market. Internationally, Asian tech shares rallied on Monday as the robust U.S. jobs report was seen as positive for global growth even as it narrowed the odds of a rise in interest rates, while oil edged higher after the U.S. and Iran attacked ships in the Gulf. Tehran said it will announce a restricted zone outside the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, after U.S. forces hit three Iranian tankers and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy ships. In Asia, enthusiasm for tech stocks saw Japan's Nikkei rebound 2.0%, after losing a similar amount last week, while South Korea rallied 4.3%. Chinese blue chips added 0.2%, with some relief that China's finance ministry will lead a combined $54 billion capital injection into state-owned insurers and banks.
Lotte extends deadline for public offer to acquire 56.19% of Engro Polymer PROFIT
NEWS DESK
Lotte Chemical Pakistan Limited has extended the deadline by 90 days for making a public offer to acquire 56.19% of Engro Polymer & Chemicals Limited (EPCL), as it continues to obtain regulatory approvals for the proposed acquisition. According to a notice submitted by Arif Habib Limited, manager to the offer, the deadline for the Public Announcement of Offer (PAO), previously set for September 8, 2026, has now been extended to December 7, 2026. The extension comes days after Lotte entered into a share purchase agreement (SPA) with Engro Corporation Limited on August 31 to acquire Engro's entire 56.19% holding in EPCL for approximately Rs19.7 billion. Under the agreement, Lotte will acquire 510,733,455 ordinary shares of EPCL at Rs38.60 per share. Lotte, Engro Corporation and EPCL separately disclosed the agreement to the Pakistan Stock Exchange on September 1. Completion of the transaction remains subject to the terms of the SPA, regulatory and corporate approvals, applicable consents and other customary conditions. The agreement marked a further step in a process that began in March, when Lotte made a non-binding offer to Engro Corporation to acquire approximately 56.19% of EPCL's issued and paidup share capital.
FWO JV seeks guaranteed dollar-linked tariff for $432m white oil pipeline PROFIT
MONITORING REPORT
Frontier Oil Company (FOC), a joint venture involving the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Azerbaijan’s state oil company Socar, has submitted a tariff petition to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), seeking to recover about $432 million in investment in the proposed 437 km Faisalabad-Thalian-Tarujabba White Oil Pipeline within four years through a guaranteed dollar-linked transportation tariff, according to a report by Dawn.
Under the proposed 30-year tariff structure, transportation of petroleum products from Faisalabad to Thalian near Rawalpindi and onward to Tarujabba near Peshawar would initially cost around $64 per tonne in 2029. The tariff would gradually decline as debt is repaid and capital costs are recovered, reaching about $14.5 per tonne by 2058. Ogra has published the tariff petition along with the project's engineering design, volume stability report and financial model. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and federal cabinet have already backed key tariff arrangements,
while Ogra is expected to approve the construction-stage tariff. The project would complete a petroleum pipeline from Karachi to Peshawar and transport petrol and high-speed diesel from Gatti in Faisalabad to northern Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is also intended to reduce reliance on road tankers and improve fuel supply security. Around 70% of petrol and diesel is currently transported by road, compared with 28% through the existing KarachiMachike pipeline network and 2% by rail. The proposed project is expected to increase the pipeline share by around 10
percentage points. The pipeline would comprise a 256km, 20-inch section from Faisalabad to Thalian with initial capacity of seven million tonnes annually, expandable to 10 million tonnes. A 172km, 12-inch pipeline would extend from Thalian to Tarujabba with five million tonnes capacity, alongside a 9km spur from Thalian to Faqirabad. The three sections are estimated to cost $320 million, $94 million and $17.5 million, respectively. The project would have a 55:45 debt-to-equity structure and a 30-year operating life.
FBR reshuffles Customs jurisdictions, expands digital cargo monitoring PROFIT
NEWS DESK
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has restructured the jurisdiction and functions of Customs field formations across the country, expanding intelligence and digital monitoring of cleared cargo while redistributing responsibilities for export schemes, warehouses, clearing agents and Export Processing Zones (EPZs). The changes have been introduced through SRO 1448(I)/2026, further revising the Customs framework established under SRO 1637(I)/2024, which had appointed Chief Collectors and Directors of Customs and defined their respective jurisdictions and functions. A key change allows intelligence or WeBOC-based monitoring of import and ex-
port cargo that has already been cleared by Customs at ports, off-dock terminals, land Customs stations, dry ports and airports. The monitoring provisions also cover cargo placed on hold through the WeBOC system. However, the notification specifies that such monitoring should not interfere with routine clearance operations carried out by the relevant Collectorates. The FBR has also formally brought a network of Digital Enforcement Stations (DES) and Mobile Enforcement Stations (MES) under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Customs Enforcement-Indus. These include stations at Thakot, Tarbela, Swabi, Attock, Khushal Garh, D I Khan-Hakla Motorway, Kalabagh, Jinnah Bridge, Chashma, Taunsa, Ghazi Ghat, Zahir Pir, Kashmore/Guddu, Sukkur, LarkanaKhairpur, Dadu-Moro and Kotri, as well as
various locations along the Hub route. The revised framework also reallocates responsibility for a number of export-related schemes. In Sindh, specified Customs formations have been assigned matters relating to the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS), Duty and Tax Remission for Exports, Manufacturing Bonds and Export Oriented Units within their respective territorial jurisdictions. Hyderabad Dryport has also been incorporated into the relevant Customs jurisdiction. In Punjab, matters relating to the Sialkot and Gujranwala Export Processing Zones have been assigned to the relevant Collectorate. Its functions will also cover matters relating to the Customs residential colony falling within its jurisdiction. The FBR has separately revised responsibilities for warehouses and clearing agents in Karachi. Specified Customs formations
will deal with matters concerning public and private warehouses, diplomatic bonded warehouses and duty-free shops, while the licensing of clearing agents has also been expressly included among their functions. The notification further expands the responsibilities of the Collectorates of Customs Appraisement at Taftan and Gwadar for Export Processing Zones. The Taftan Collectorate will handle Customs clearance of imports and exports relating to EPZ Saindak, EPZ Siadiq and EPZ Reko Diq. Its jurisdiction will also extend to any new Export Processing Zone established within its territorial limits. The Gwadar Collectorate will similarly be responsible for EPZ Duddar and any future EPZ established within its jurisdiction. The amendments also define separate Customs jurisdictions for northern and
southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In North KP, the relevant formation will handle cargo clearance for exports, imports, EPZs and temporary imports, excluding international transit, across the civil divisions of Hazara, Malakand, Mardan, Nowshera and Peshawar. Its jurisdiction includes Customs stations at Peshawar Dryport, Shabqadar, Azakhel, Amangarh, Upper Dir, Nawa Pass, Jamrud, Shergarh, Khapakh, Arandu, Shah Saleem and Torkham, along with EPZ Risalpur. South KP has been given a separate jurisdiction covering Kohat, Bannu, D I Khan and Miranshah. It includes Customs stations at Tank, Thall, Kharlachi, Shaheedano Dand, Burki, Lawara Boya-Datta Khel, Angoor Adda, Khand Narai, Ghulam Khan, Bakka Khel and Terimengal, as well as EPZ Miranshah.
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | ISLAMABAD
IRAN TO INSPECT NEW MANGO TREATMENT PLANTS AFTER THREE-YEAR GAP
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TWO-MEMBER TEAM TO ASSESS AROUND 10 HOT-WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES AS MANGO EXPORTS TO IRAN FALL BY HALF ISLAMABAD
ghulAm AbbAs
RAN is set to send a two-member team to Pakistan to inspect newly established hot-water treatment (HWT) plants for mangoes, a move that could pave the way for approval of additional facilities and help Pakistan revive exports to one of its important regional markets. The visit, expected shortly, follows months of correspondence between the Iranian authorities and Pakistan’s Department of Plant Protection (DPP), as well as efforts by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to resume the inspection mechanism. The development assumes significance for Pakistan’s mango exporters, who have witnessed a substantial decline in shipments to Iran. Around 30,000 tonnes of mangoes have been exported to the neighbouring country during the current season, compared with more than 60,000 tonnes in previous seasons, according to industry sources. Exporters believe approval of addi-
tional HWT facilities could increase treatment capacity, provide greater flexibility to exporters and help Pakistan recover part of the market lost in recent years. The Iranian team’s proposed visit will be the first inspection of Pakistani HWT facilities by Iranian authorities in about three years. The team is expected to examine around 10 newly established plants and assess their treatment infrastructure, procedures and compliance with requirements prescribed for exports to Iran. Approval of more facilities is particularly important because Pakistan’s mango exports to Iran are currently dependent on a limited number of approved treatment plants. Greater treatment capacity could make it easier for exporters to handle larger volumes and reduce dependence on a small number of facilities. The proposed Iranian inspection is therefore significant not only for the approval of new facilities but also for maintaining confidence in Pakistan’s mango treatment and phytosanitary system. Officials said the DPP director general and the secretary of the Ministry of Na-
SBP rejects reports linking Raast to money laundering concerns PROFIT
neWs desk
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has rejected reports suggesting that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) identified Raast as a channel for money laundering, saying the report neither describes the payment system as a money-laundering mechanism nor raises concerns about its integrity. In a clarification, the central bank said it had taken notice of a “misleading headline” on a social media platform that suggested FATF had identified Raast as a channel for money laundering. “The FATF report neither identifies Raast as a money-laundering mechanism nor raises any specific concern regarding the integrity of the Raast payment infrastructure,” the SBP said, adding that any portrayal suggesting otherwise misrepresented the report’s context and findings. The SBP said the FATF report discusses the potential misuse of formal banking and payment channels by underground banking and hawala networks across different countries and jurisdictions. It clarified that Raast was mentioned only as a legitimate domestic payment channel used for payments and transfers within Pakistan. The central bank further stressed that Raast does not currently facilitate cross-border transfers. The SBP said it remained committed to maintaining the integrity of Pakistan’s payment systems and would continue monitoring and strengthening safeguards in line with international standards. The SBP clarification follows reporting on a joint FATF-OECD study that detailed an Oman-based hawala network facilitating unlicensed cross-border remittances to Pakistan through WhatsApp, mobile-linked transfers and e-wallets. The activity came under scrutiny after a reporting entity noticed a sudden decline in customer remittances through certain corridors. Subsequent enquiries identified a WhatsApp group called “XX Money Exchange”, operated by foreign nationals offering foreign exchange and remittance services to expatriate communities in Oman. According to the report, the hawaladars offered exchange rates below formal market rates while charging minimal or no fees. Customers provided funds either in cash or through mobile-linked transfers, while ewallets were used to arrange corresponding payments in the destination jurisdiction. The report said the scheme took advantage of lower-cost remittance channels in destination countries, including fee-free transfer channels to Pakistan, as well as exchange-rate differentials offered by some digital wallet or payment providers.
tional Food Security and Research had been pursuing the matter with the Iranian authorities and Tehran had now conveyed its willingness to send the inspection team. Sources said the timing of the visit remained important despite the end of the main mango export season, as approval of additional facilities would determine the treatment capacity available to exporters in future seasons. However, insiders said some influential exporters and HWT plant owners, who have allegedly established a near-monopoly over mango treatment and exports to Iran, were opposing the proposed visit. According to the sources, letters had allegedly been sent anonymously to the Iranian authorities in an attempt to discourage or delay the inspection team’s visit. The sources alleged that the operators were seeking to maintain their dominant position in the treatment and export business and feared that approval of new plants, coupled with stricter compliance with phytosanitary requirements, could affect their share of exports. They further alleged that a significant portion of exports
had previously been handled without full compliance with the prescribed phytosanitary requirements. Iran has historically been an important market for Pakistani mangoes, with geographical proximity providing Pakistani exporters a logistical advantage over suppliers from more distant markets. An expansion in the number of approved HWT plants could consequently help Pakistan compete more effectively and increase shipments in coming seasons. Industry stakeholders also believe that improved compliance with Iranian phytosanitary requirements will be essential to sustaining market access. Any further interception of consignments could affect confidence in Pakistan’s export-control system and make recovery of the market more difficult. With exports to Iran estimated at around 30,000 tonnes this season against more than 60,000 tonnes in earlier years, exporters see considerable scope for recovery if additional HWT facilities are approved and treatment and phytosanitary compliance is strictly maintained.
ZTBL gets CFO Muhammad Arif as acting President ISLAMABAD
AhmAd AhmAdAni
The federal government has assigned the acting charge of President and Chief Executive Officer of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) to Chief Financial Officer Muhammad Arif for an interim period of six months or till privatisation of the bank, whichever is earlier. According to a notification issued by the Finance Division, the federal government has assigned the Acting Charge of the Office of the President/CEO, ZTBL, to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) ZTBL, Mr Muhammad Arif, for an interim period of six months or till privatisation of the bank, whichever is earlier. Arif will assume the additional responsibility of heading the specialised agricultural bank while continuing to perform his existing duties as CFO. The appointment comes at a significant stage for ZTBL as the bank moves towards privatisation, placing an existing member of its senior management at the helm during the transition period. Arif will be responsible for overseeing the bank’s affairs during the interim period while maintaining operational continuity and financial management. His appointment also comes as the federal government proceeds with its broader programme for restructuring and privatising selected state-owned entities. ZTBL is Pakistan’s specialised financial institution for the agriculture sector and has historically played an important role in extending credit to farmers for agricultural inputs, machinery, livestock and other farming-related requirements. The bank operates through a nationwide network and re-
mains a key institution in the country’s agricultural financing system. Arif is already part of ZTBL’s senior management and has been serving as the bank’s Chief Financial Officer and Senior Executive Vice President. His responsibilities have included financial management, budgeting, reporting and financial planning, giving him substantial familiarity with the bank’s financial position and internal operations. His elevation to the acting President and CEO position provides continuity in the bank’s leadership at a time when ZTBL is preparing for a potential change in ownership. His existing knowledge of the bank’s financial structure, internal systems, management and operational affairs could be particularly relevant during the transition. The CFO’s financial background is also significant as ZTBL moves through the privatisation process. Financial management, transparency, balance-sheet position, asset valuation, regulatory compliance and institutional preparedness are likely to remain important areas during the transition. The acting President and CEO will have to ensure that the bank’s normal operations continue without disruption while the privatisation process moves forward. ZTBL’s privatisation is part of the federal government’s broader programme to restructure and privatise selected state-owned enterprises. The process is aimed at improving efficiency and governance and reducing the financial burden associated with state-owned entities. For ZTBL, however, the transition carries particular importance because of its specialised role in providing financing to the agriculture sector. Maintaining the availability and delivery of
agricultural credit will remain an important consideration as the bank goes through the privatisation process. Any restructuring of the institution could have implications for farmers who rely on ZTBL for financing agricultural inputs, machinery, livestock and other farming needs. Ensuring continuity of these services will therefore remain an important responsibility for the acting chief.
MUHAMMAD ARIF’S ZTBL PROFILE: Muhammad Arif currently serves as CFO and SEVP at ZTBL and has been associated with the bank’s senior management for several years. His principal area of responsibility has been the finance function, giving him extensive exposure to the bank’s financial operations and internal decision-making. His appointment as acting President and CEO also provides an element of continuity because he is already familiar with the institution’s financial position, internal systems, senior management and operational challenges. However, the notification makes clear that his appointment is transitional. He will hold the acting charge for an interim period of six months or till privatisation of the bank, whichever is earlier. During this period, Arif will be expected to maintain the bank’s financial and operational stability while ensuring that its core functions continue smoothly as the privatisation process progresses. For ZTBL, the appointment comes at a defining stage in its institutional journey. For Muhammad Arif, it marks a significant elevation from the bank’s finance leadership to its top executive position, placing him at the helm of one of Pakistan’s key agricultural-financing institutions during a potentially historic ownership transition.
PM Shehbaz calls literacy cornerstone of national progress and prosperity CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
“To fully realize the benefits of literacy, it is equally imperative to give special attention to women’s education and empowerment. The country’s inclusive development depends on ensuring that women have equal opportunities to develop their capabilities and play their due role in national development,” he further stressed. The prime minister said literacy is also fundamental to raising public awareness about the challenges of the twentyfirst century, particularly climate change, environmental degradation and related risks, adding informed and responsi-
ble citizens can play a more effective role in protecting and sustainably developing their natural resources. To achieve the national objective of improving literacy rates and establishing a quality education system, the government, educational institutions, students, teachers, parents, civil society, development partners, the private sector and the media must all work together and play an effective and coordinated role, he underscored. “Let us renew our resolve that, as a nation, we will illuminate the minds of our younger generation with the light of knowledge and ensure a prosperous and accomplished future marked by progress and opportunity,” he emphasised.
NEWS 03
Pakistan, Japan sign $16.4 million grant agreement for Sindh flood defences
JPY 2.58 billion project will strengthen Old Abad Bund along the Indus River’s right bank in Larkana PROFIT
Web desk
Pakistan and Japan on Monday signed a $16.4 million grant agreement to reinforce a key flood-protection embankment along the Indus River in Sindh. The JPY 2.58 billion project will finance improvements to the Old Abad Bund in Larkana, situated on the right bank of the river. The work is aimed at reducing flood risks and improving the resilience of vulnerable communities in the surrounding areas. Economic Affairs Secretary Muhammad Humair Karim Kidwai and Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Akamatsu Shuichi signed and exchanged the documents on behalf of their respective governments at a ceremony held on Monday. The documents included the Exchange of Notes, Record of Discussion and Grant Agreement for the “Project for Flood Protection and Dike Improvement on Indus River in Sindh Province”. Under the agreement, Japan will provide the entire JPY 2.58 billion funding as a grant. Kidwai thanked the Japanese government and people for their continued development assistance to Pakistan. He also acknowledged Japan’s longstanding role as a development partner and JICA’s technical support across different sectors. Akamatsu reiterated Japan’s commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation and strengthening relations with Pakistan. JICA Senior Representative Sugawara Takayuki welcomed the signing and appreciated the efforts of the federal and Sindh governments in bringing the project to the implementation stage. He also reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to supporting flood-protection infrastructure in vulnerable parts of Sindh.
Farmers body urges govt to export 1 million tonnes of sugar before crushing season PROFIT
monitoring report
Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) has urged the government to allow the export of 1 million tonnes of surplus sugar before the new crushing season begins on November 15, warning that delayed approvals could lead to a sharp fall in sugarcane prices and losses for farmers. PKI President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar said the country already had nearly 1.3 million tonnes of unconsumed sugar stocks, while estimates pointed to a bumper sugarcane crop, with production expected to increase by 10-15%. The farmers’ body warned that carrying surplus sugar into the new crushing season without opening exports could put downward pressure on sugarcane purchase prices. It cited the 2017-18 crushing season, claiming delays in export approvals at the time resulted in nearly Rs100 billion in collective losses for farming households. The PKI also called for complete deregulation of the sugar sector, seeking to have sugar imports, exports, production and prices determined by market forces rather than government approvals and administrative restrictions. The demand comes after sugarcane production reached a record 89.45 million tonnes in FY2025-26, up 6.2% from the previous year, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26. The area under cultivation increased 2.4%, while average yields reached 780 maunds per acre. Sugarcane accounts for around 0.8% of Pakistan’s GDP and 3.2% of agricultural value addition. Alongside deregulation, PKI proposed a temporary ban on establishing new sugar mills until existing mills reach at least 75% capacity utilisation. It also sought a minimum distance of 50 miles between new mills and the repeal of provincial Sugar Acts. Representatives from the processing industry also backed changes to the regulatory framework, arguing that government intervention and delays in trade decisions contribute to cycles of surplus stocks and falling prices.
NEPRA clears key hurdle for competitive power market, 400MW auction next CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The discussions covered inter-DISCO differences, cross-subsidies and transmission and distribution losses, all of which were considered important for establishing a uniform charging structure for consumers using the open-access system. The Power Division had maintained that any difference between DISCOs resulting from the uniform application of UoSC should not be charged exclusively to consumers opting for wheeling. In its communication to NEPRA, the Power Division supported a mechanism under which such differences would instead be settled between DISCOs, similar to the existing arrangement for maintaining a uniform electricity tariff for end consumers. ISMO and K-Electric, however, raised concerns over the proposal, arguing that charging the differences to wheeling consumers could result in different charges for open-access consumers and similarly placed consumers supplied by suppliers of last resort. They also maintained that such a mechanism could be inconsistent with the National Electricity Policy 2021 and National Electricity Plan 2023-27. After considering the positions of the
stakeholders, NEPRA concluded that the key principle should be to ensure that openaccess consumers are charged the same UoSC as similarly placed consumers supplied by suppliers of last resort. The regulator therefore agreed that interDISCO differences should not be imposed exclusively on wheeling consumers, as doing so could undermine the principles of uniformity and non-discrimination. NEPRA also approved uniform transmission and distribution loss factors for open-access consumers. At the 11kV level, the regulator determined a uniform loss factor of 8.04 percent, lower than the 8.42 percent proposed by the Power Division. For consumers connected at 132kV, a uniform loss factor of 1.51 percent was approved. Under the approved structure, variable grid charges for consumers participating in the competitive wheeling auction will range from Rs6.23 to Rs19.62 per unit, depending on the consumer category. A fixed grid charge of Rs1 per kilowatt per month, based on sanctioned load, will also apply. The approved variable UoSC has been set at Rs6.23 per unit for B-3 consumers, Rs9.09 for B-4, Rs14.95 for C-3, Rs19.62 for
C-2(a), Rs17.74 for C-2(b), Rs19.14 for A2(c), Rs19.10 for A-3 and Rs6.72 for D-2(b). These charges include transmission charges, distribution charges and cross-subsidy. For B-3 consumers, for example, the Rs6.23 per-unit charge includes Rs1.60 in transmission charges, Rs1.99 in distribution charges and Rs2.63 in cross-subsidy. For B4 consumers, the Rs9.09 charge includes Rs1.26 in transmission charges, Rs2.78 in distribution charges and Rs5.05 in crosssubsidy. NEPRA has also approved stranded-cost charges for consumers who opt for open access without participating in the competitive wheeling auction. The stranded-cost component has been set at Rs12.94 per unit for consumers connected at 11kV and Rs16.35 per unit for consumers connected at 132kV or 66kV. With the addition of stranded costs, the total variable UoSC will stand at Rs19.17 per unit for B-3 consumers, Rs25.45 for B4, Rs31.30 for C-3, Rs32.56 for C-2(a), Rs30.68 for C-2(b), Rs32.08 for A-2(c), Rs32.04 for A-3 and Rs19.66 for D-2(b). The federal government had also sought uniform application of UoSC to K-Electric. It had proposed that any resulting financial gap should be addressed through an additional charge rather than a government subsidy.
NEPRA decided that the additional charge would apply to all consumers, including open-access consumers and those supplied by suppliers of last resort, in order to maintain uniformity. However, the regulator did not approve a mechanism for settling differences arising from uniform transmission and distribution losses at this stage. NEPRA noted that while ISMO had proposed such a mechanism, it had not yet been fully discussed among all stakeholders. The regulator observed that the National Electricity Plan requires a mechanism for settling inter-DISCO differences arising from uniform UoSC but does not specifically require a mechanism for energy differences resulting from uniform transmission and distribution losses. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari welcomed the NEPRA decision, calling it a major milestone in the establishment of a competitive electricity market in Pakistan. He said the determination of UoSC was the final major regulatory step required for the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM), paving the way for its auction. According to the minister, the competitive market would move Pakistan be-
yond the traditional single-buyer model by allowing eligible industrial consumers to buy electricity directly from suppliers of their choice through bilateral agreements. Leghari said competition in electricity procurement could lead to more efficient power generation and better prices while helping make better use of existing power plants. He said the new market could also reduce inefficiencies across the electricity supply chain and encourage greater use of renewable energy, battery storage and cheaper local energy resources. This, he added, could help reduce Pakistan’s dependence on expensive imported fuels. The minister said NEPRA’s decision had provided the regulatory framework needed for direct access, while the CTBCM auction would bring a major structural change to Pakistan’s electricity market. He reiterated the Ministry of Energy’s commitment to implementing the competitive electricity market in a transparent and effective manner and providing eligible consumers with greater choice. The approval marks a major step towards opening Pakistan’s electricity market to greater competition, with the proposed 400MW first-phase auction now moving closer to implementation.
04 COMMENT
When the mountains weep
Devolve the power
P
TI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan’s warning against hurried provincial division deserves consideration. At the heart of the debate is an essential question: how should Pakistan bring the government closer to its people? No subject should be beyond democratic discussion. Provincial boundaries cannot be exempt from scrutiny, nor should proposing change invite accusations of disloyalty. Equally, attachment to a province reflects histories, languages and belonging that administrative arguments cannot simply dismiss. A credible debate must accommodate both the demand for change and the fear of its consequences. Nobody should have a veto over the conversation. But advocates of new provinces owe citizens considerably more than a revised map. They must explain how assets, debt, pension liabilities, public employees and development commitments would be apportioned. Which government would inherit an unfinished hospital, and which would service the loan that financed it? How would responsibilities under lender-supported programmes be reassigned without interrupting funding or delivery? Federal revenue-sharing arrangements would require settlement, alongside the costs of additional assemblies, secretariats and bureaucracies. These are central questions of viability. There is also a constitutional threshold. Altering provincial boundaries requires a constitutional amendment, including approval by two-thirds of the total membership of the affected provincial assembly. That requirement recognises the gravity of territorial change. Meanwhile, Pakistan already has a constitutional route towards bringing authority closer to citizens. Article 140A requires provinces to establish local governments and devolve political, administrative and financial authority to elected representatives; it also assigns their elections to the Election Commission. The constitutional obligation exists, but its institutional design leaves substantial control with provincial lawmakers. That dependence needs to be addressed directly. Stronger constitutional guarantees should secure fixed terms, enforceable election deadlines and continuity between elected councils. Clearly assigned functions, predictable fiscal transfers and authority over relevant staff should give local representatives the means to act. Provincial governments should have no discretion to suspend local democracy through repeated legislative redesign or prolonged administrative arrangements. For a household living beside an overflowing drain, an accessible government means someone who can be held responsible and has the money and authority to fix it. Another provincial capital offers no assurance of that relationship. Empowered councils will not settle every claim rooted in identity or regional deprivation. Those claims deserve a fair hearing. But before undertaking a politically and socially fraught redrawing of Pakistan, its leaders should deliver the decentralisation already promised. Their willingness to share power locally would lend credibility to their enthusiasm for creating new provinces.
H
MuhaMMad MohSin iqbal
OLLYWOOD is second to none in producing films of action, suspense and catastrophe. Through the marvels of modern technology, filmmakers portray storms, earthquakes, floods and destruction with such astonishing realism that the human mind is often left bewildered. The scenes appear so extraordinary that one is inclined to believe that they belong only to the realm of imagination. Yet there are moments in history when reality surpasses fiction, and nature unveils a spectacle of devastation that no camera, no scriptwriter and no artificial intelligence can fully imitate. The recent disaster in Nepal was one such event. When images and videos of the calamity spread across social media, many viewers around the world initially regarded them as scenes from a motion picture or perhaps the product of digital manipulation. Torrents of muddy water rushing down mountain valleys, giant rocks tumbling with unimaginable force, and settlements disappearing beneath waves of destruction resembled a cinematic sequence. But this was no illusion; it was a painful reality that descended upon the people of Nepal with the suddenness of a divine warning. The disaster occurred in the Himalayan region, where towering glaciers and glacial lakes form one of the largest reserves of freshwater outside the polar regions. Nepal is home to more than three thousand glaciers and thousands of glacial lakes, many of which have expanded significantly due to rising global temperatures. Scientific studies have repeatedly warned that climate change is accelerating the melting of Himalayan ice. As glaciers retreat, enormous lakes are formed behind unstable walls of ice
and loose rock. These lakes may remain calm for years, but when their natural barriers collapse because of heavy rainfall, avalanches, earthquakes or rising temperatures, the resulting floods can unleash catastrophic destruction. In the recent incident, reports indicated that a glacial lake burst in the high mountain region, releasing an immense volume of water that surged down narrow valleys with extraordinary force. The floodwaters carried with them ice, rocks, trees and debris, multiplying the scale of devastation. Roads, bridges and settlements lying in the path of this torrent suffered extensive damage. Families who had retired to their homes in peace and security found themselves suddenly confronted with a calamity that transformed their lives within moments. Such events compel mankind to reflect upon the fragile nature of worldly existence. Before this catastrophe, life in those valleys moved in its usual rhythm. Yet in a single hour, everything changed. The Holy Qur’an repeatedly reminds humanity that the final Hour will arrive unexpectedly and that its signs and terrors are beyond human imagination. While the exact nature of the Day of Judgment remains known only to Allah Almighty, natural calamities serve as reminders of man’s vulnerability and the temporary character of earthly life. Indeed, all religions of the world may differ on various theological matters, but they are united in acknowledging one universal truth: death is inevitable, and human beings are accountable for their actions. Catastrophes such as the one witnessed in Nepal awaken the conscience of mankind and remind us that despite all scientific advancement, man remains dependent upon the forces of nature and, ultimately, upon the will of the Creator. Though this catastrophe was, in outward seeming, a work of Nature wherein the hand of man appeared but little, yet the shortcomings of humankind cannot be lightly dismissed. We have long played a perilous game with the delicate balance of the environment that sustains us. The tragedy of Nepal, therefore, is not merely a local disaster; it is a warning for the entire region. Pakistan, too, possesses some of the world’s largest glaciers outside the polar regions, particularly in the Karakoram and Himalayan ranges. Changes in climate, irregular monsoon patterns and
Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
China, Russia and the US: A new trilateral contest for global influence M. A. Niazi
Babar Nizami Editor Profit
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Saqlain abid
ODAY, global power dynamics and structural development are increasingly being shaped by a simple strategic reality: states need to trade across multiple centres of power, maintain credible defence capabilities and secure their energy requirements simultaneously. A single source of dependency can increasingly become a trade-off against sovereign and independent decision-making. Beyond the Middle East, South Asian and East Asian geopolitics are also entering a period of renewed uncertainty, where longstanding security commitments to Japan and Taiwan are coming under greater scrutiny. In the Iran War, the American security umbrella appeared severely strained, compelling traditionally dependent states to reconsider the reliability and flexibility of the existing regional order. Russia’s growing support for North Korea has similarly increased anxiety in South Korea, while Seoul continues to seek negotiations, dignity and peaceful engagement even as the North continues to strengthen its nuclear capabilities. Moscow and North Korea relations are no longer merely a conventional strategic partnership; they increasingly represent a calculated form of pressure on American security assurances in East Asia. The United States is therefore confronting a complex trilateral challenge involving China’s economic and technological strength, Russia’s military confrontation and North Korea’s expanding nuclear capabilities, while Iran has emerged as a significant regional security concern. Yet the emerging competition should not automatically be interpreted as a new Cold War. China has demonstrated a preference for longterm strategic patience, economic influence and diplomatic manoeuvring. Beijing’s position on Taiwan remains connected with its broader principle of national unity, while the United States recognised the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China in 1979. A military confrontation over Taiwan would consequently carry consequences far beyond the immediate battlefield. The Taiwan Strait is central to global trade and the semiconductor supply chain, meaning any prolonged conflict could disrupt international commerce and technological production worldwide. China therefore has strong incentives to continue using negotiations, economic pressure, diplomacy and other instruments of statecraft wherever these can advance its objectives without triggering an uncontrollable confrontation. The Japanese dilemma is equally significant. Russia continues to hold the Kuril Islands, which Japan claims as its northern territories. Japan consequently finds itself surrounded by a complicated strategic environment: China to the southwest, North Korea to the west and Russia to the northeast. The evolving Putin-Kim Jong relationship adds another layer of uncertainty.
What concerns Tokyo is not simply the military capability of either country, but the possibility that deeper Russia-North Korea coordination could create a more assertive strategic environment in Northeast Asia at a time when questions are already being raised about the credibility and limits of American security assurances. Meanwhile, the fast-growing ASEAN countries, alongside Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia and KSA, increasingly require a diversified strategic portfolio. They need Chinese investment, American technology, Russian energy and access to Western banks and markets without necessarily becoming permanent participants in the strategic camp of any single major power. In this environment, the traditional description of global politics as a simple two-bloc confrontation is becoming increasingly outdated. States are seeking flexibility rather than ideological alignment, partnerships rather than permanent dependency, and strategic autonomy rather than exclusive geopolitical commitments. The larger transformation is therefore not simply about the rise of China, the return of Russia or the resilience of the United States. It is about the interaction of all three with an increas-
ingly assertive group of middle and regional powers. Washington retains enormous military, technological and financial capabilities; Beijing possesses extraordinary economic and industrial leverage; while Moscow continues to exercise significant military, nuclear and energy influence. Their competition is creating strategic space for countries that can carefully balance their relationships rather than becoming permanently dependent on one side. From Afghanistan to Japan, countries across Asia are attempting, within their own capabilities, to preserve national security, economic stability and sovereign decision-making while avoiding becoming casualties of a wider geopolitical recession. The emerging order may not be defined by two rigid blocs, but by a complex network of overlapping partnerships in which defence, energy, technology, trade and diplomacy are negotiated simultaneously. The central question for the coming decade will not simply be which power dominates the world, but whether smaller and middle powers can preserve their sovereignty while navigating the competing ambitions of China, Russia and the United States. The writer is a freelance columnist
Yet the emerging competition should not automatically be interpreted as a new Cold War. China has demonstrated a preference for long-term strategic patience, economic influence and diplomatic manoeuvring. Beijing’s position on Taiwan remains connected with its broader principle of national unity, while the United States recognised the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China in 1979.
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the management of transboundary rivers are matters of profound national concern. The desolation that accompanied this natural affliction in Nepal mirrors the manner in which India hath, for many a season, conducted itself during the monsoon rains. Upon the rivers that flow toward Pakistan it hath erected dams; and when our rightful portion of the waters is impounded therein until the reservoirs brim to overflowing, then are the floodgates opened, and a deluge is loosed upon the plains of Pakistan, bringing harm and hardship to her people. This practice of water terrorism hath India pursued for a considerable span of years, whilst the nations of the world look on in silence, and none stretch forth a hand to restrain it. Should this course continue unchecked, then—God forbid—a calamity akin to that which has stricken Nepal may one day arise in Pakistan also. We must therefore amend our ways and fortify our position ere such an hour arrives; otherwise, our destiny shall differ little from that of the afflicted land of Nepal. If the world remain a mute spectator to this injustice, then it falls upon us to take measures ourselves for our own preservation and the safeguarding of the generations yet to come. The lessons of Nepal should not be ignored. Nations must invest in environmental protection, early warning systems, flood management and regional cooperation. Scientific knowledge must be combined with responsible policies, while societies must cultivate respect for nature and gratitude to the Almighty. Neglecting these responsibilities could expose millions to avoidable suffering. History bears witness that civilizations rise when they act with wisdom and foresight, and decline when they disregard the signs placed before them. The disaster in Nepal is one such sign. It calls upon humanity to reflect, to reform and to prepare. If mankind continues to exploit nature without restraint, and if nations fail to resolve critical issues such as climate change and water management, then tragedies of greater magnitude may await future generations. May Allah Almighty protect humanity from calamities, guide nations towards justice and cooperation, and grant us the wisdom to learn from the warnings that nature places before us. The writer is freelance columnist
The desolation that accompanied this natural affliction in Nepal mirrors the manner in which India hath, for many a season, conducted itself during the monsoon rains.
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Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
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Abusive behavior of teachers in academic institutions
TEACHERS play an important role in shaping students’ academic, social, and personal development. However, abusive teaching behaviors can negatively affect students and create an unhealthy educational environment. Abusive teaching behavior refers to inappropriate actions, words, or attitudes by teachers that cause emotional, psychological, or academic harm to students. Such behaviors may occur in different forms, including genderbased humiliation, psychological abuse, verbal abuse, and threatening behavior. These behaviors can make students feel unsafe, disrespected, and unsupported in academic institutions. Therefore, it is important to understand these behaviors and their consequences in order to promote a respectful, supportive, and healthy learning environment for all students. One of the forms of abusive teaching behavior is gender-based humiliation. It occurs when teachers humiliate, insult, or treat students unfairly because of their gender. Teachers may sometimes make inappropriate comments about the abilities, appearance, behavior, or personality of male and female students. For example, girls may be considered less capable in certain subjects, while boys may be criticized for expressing emotions or showing weakness. Such gender-based attitudes can make students feel inferior and uncomfortable in the classroom. When students repeatedly experience this type of humiliation, they may lose confidence and become reluctant to participate in academic activities. Teachers should therefore treat all students equally, respectfully, and fairly. Verbal abuse is another harmful form of abusive teaching behavior in academic institutions. It involves the use of insulting, disrespectful, humiliating, or offensive language toward students. Teachers may verbally abuse students by shouting at them, calling them insulting and inappropriate names, using sarcasm, making hurtful comments, or criticizing them in front of their classmates. Such behavior can cause embarrassment, fear, and emotional distress. Students who regularly experience verbal abuse may become silent and hesitant to participate in classroom discussions. They may also lose trust in their teachers and feel uncomfortable in the learning environment. Teachers should communicate with students respectfully and use constructive criticism rather than offensive language to correct their mistakes. Another significant form of abusive teaching behavior is psychological abuse. It involves behaviors that negatively affect students’ emotional and psychological well-being. Teachers may psychologically abuse students through constant criticism, humiliation, excessive comparison, intimidation, ignoring their efforts, or making them feel incapable and worthless. Such behavior can create fear, stress, and emotional insecurity among students. When students continuously feel that their teacher does not value or respect them, they may lose motivation and develop negative feelings about themselves and their academic abilities. Psychological abuse can also make students afraid of making mistakes or expressing their opinions. Teachers should provide constructive feedback, encouragement, and emotional support instead of using behaviors that cause psychological harm. Threatening behavior is another harmful form of abusive teaching behavior. It involves using fear, intimidation, or threats to control students or maintain discipline. Teachers may threaten students with punishment, poor grades, expulsion, public humiliation, or other negative consequences. Such behavior can create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in the classroom. Students who experience threatening behavior may become anxious and hesitate to ask questions, express their opinions, or participate in academic activities. Continuous threats may also negatively affect their emotional well-being and relationship with teachers. Instead of using fear and intimidation, teachers should maintain discipline through clear rules, respectful communication, constructive guidance, and positive reinforcement. This can create a safer and healthier learning environment.
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LAYIBA TAHIR KARACHI
COMMENT 05
Domestic Pipelines of Southeast Asia’s Cyber Scam Economy
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
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dr iMraN KHalid
HE American response to Southeast Asia’s industrial-scale scam compounds has been vigorous, even theatrical at times, yet it remains strikingly incomplete. In April 2026 the Justice Department’s Scam Center Strike Force seized 503 domains designed to impersonate legitimate trading platforms, restrained roughly $702 million in cryptocurrency linked to the fraud, and for the first time dismantled a Telegram recruitment channel that had drawn more than 6,000 followers toward employment in Cambodian compounds. By June, the Treasury Department and FinCEN had designated nine individuals and 26 entities connected to Cambodia’s Prince Group and moved to exclude the payment platform H-Pay from the United States financial system. Subsequent actions in July added another $25 million in forfeitures, bringing the Strike Force’s cumulative recoveries past $800 million. These are not trivial numbers. They demonstrate capacity and political will. They also reveal the limits of an approach that continues to treat the problem as essentially a offshorebased enterprise operating on Burmese or Cambodian soil. The pattern of designations and seizures has so far focused almost exclusively on international operators and a handful of Cambodian financial nodes. That framing is convenient and partly accurate. It is also insufficient. The labor that staffs the compounds and the financial corridors that move the proceeds after they leave a victim’s account both run heavily through South and Southeast Asian economies that export workers and, in some cases, tolerate or fail to police domestic mule networks. India and Indonesia sit at the center of both pipelines. Consider the workforce first. Indian government figures cited in early 2025 placed roughly 2,000 Indian nationals inside scam operations around Myawaddy, the Myanmar border town that, alongside Shwe Kokko, remains one of the industry’s principal hubs. Many had responded to fabricated job advertisements for computer operators or dataentry clerks circulating on Facebook groups and WhatsApp forwards, offers that promised monthly salaries of 60,000 to 70,000 rupees. Some were trafficked in the classic sense; others appear to have entered knowingly, or at least with eyes half-open, calcu-
lating that the risks were manageable. The distinction rarely survives media coverage, which prefers a single narrative of victims held under guard and awaiting rescue. India has repatriated more than 2,500 of its nationals from these compounds since 2022, with recent flights continuing into late August 2026. The foreign ministry still lists dozens as unaccounted for. Yet a labor force large enough to sustain roundthe-clock English-language outreach across WhatsApp, Instagram, Tinder and LinkedIn cannot be assembled solely through kidnapping. Recruitment networks reach deep into Indian towns and cities long before any border is crossed. The Central Bureau of Investigation’s recent arrests of recruiters in Haryana and elsewhere underscore that the supply chain is domestic as well as transnational. Indonesia’s experience compresses the same story into sharper numbers. Jakarta’s Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection recorded more than 12,000 Indonesians entangled in Cambodia’s scam economy in the first half of 2026 alone, more than double the entire previous year’s count. The mechanics are nearly identical: fake job postings, brokers who undercut slower official channels, and workers who discover too late that the promised employment is forced cybercrime. Cambodian authorities claim to have closed hundreds of sites and deported tens of thousands, yet Amnesty International’s mid-2026 assessment found that more than 70 percent of the compounds it tracked had been bypassed or quickly reconstituted. UN experts, speaking in May and reiterated in subsequent reporting, described the situation as a humanitarian and human-rights crisis involving forced labor and forced criminality on an industrial scale. Compounds relocate faster than governments can announce their closure.
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FINANCIAL TIMES Editorial
MERICA is at war, mired in a misbegotten conflict with Iran. Yet last week, after reportedly warning President Donald Trump that his defence secretary Pete Hegseth was inflicting “generational damage” on the US military, the secretary of the army Dan Driscoll resigned. Though temporary replacements are in place, Driscoll’s departure leaves the US without a Senate-confirmed army secretary, army chief of staff, commander of US army forces in Europe or navy secretary — even as the Iran conflict tests the limits of US military resources. US adversaries must surely be celebrating the continued tenure of one of the least suitable defence secretaries in modern American history. Driscoll’s departure was expected after months of tensions with Hegseth. But his resignation — it was not a sacking — should be taken seriously. The 40-year-old Iraq war veteran is no “deep-state” troublemaker. He has strong Maga credentials and is a close friend of vice-president JD Vance. His exit amounts to an indictment of the Hegseth regime from within the Maga world. The immediate spur appears to be the defence secretary’s systematic purge of experienced professional military top brass, especially those ready to stand up to Hegseth. The Pentagon chief has driven out two dozen generals and admirals throughout the military, through firings or forced removals. He has also blocked dozens of promotions. The firings include, in April, General Randy George, the army chief of staff who was Driscoll’s main ally in efforts to modernise the army by revamping procurement and shifting to technologies including drones and AI, informed by the Ukraine and Iran conflicts. The broader context for Driscoll’s exit is the rapid depletion of munitions due to the Iran conflict and growing concerns about military supply chain capacity. The Iran op-
victim in that category exceeded $117,000, frequently drawn from retirement savings accumulated over decades. The scams are engineered as prolonged relationships rather than one-off deceptions. A target does not surrender a life’s savings to a stranger; the money is handed to someone who has spent months performing the role of friend or trusted adviser. This points to some regional players as the architects of the scam economy. The ground on which the compounds sit is controlled by Myanmar’s Border Guard Forces and allied militias that extract rents for protection. Operators migrate to new domains within days of a seizure, as they did after the December 2025 takedown of a Tai Chang site and again after the larger April 2026 sweep. Capital that has learned to outlast local enforcement simply relocates. Nor does identifying recruitment networks and mule accounts imply that every participant is a willing collaborator.
Indonesia’s experience compresses the same story into sharper numbers. Jakarta’s Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection recorded more than 12,000 Indonesians entangled in Cambodia’s scam economy in the first half of 2026 alone, more than double the entire previous year’s count. The mechanics are nearly identical: fake job postings, brokers who undercut slower official channels, and workers who discover too late that the promised employment is forced cybercrime.
Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon purge Driscoll exit reflects damage the defence secretary is doing to the US military
The money moves in the opposite direction but follows a comparable geography. Stolen funds typically leave the compounds as Tether on the Tron blockchain, selected for low transaction costs and for operating outside the formal SWIFT system. From there they pass through mixers and decentralized exchanges before portions reappear, cleaned, inside domestic banking systems that ask too few questions. India’s cybercrime losses are no longer marginal. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre recorded losses of roughly 11,333 crore rupees, about $1.3 billion, in the first nine months of 2024, with a substantial share traced to Southeast Asian operations. Full-year 2025 figures from the Ministry of Home Affairs reached approximately 22,495 crore rupees, or $2.6 billion. Across all digital fraud the Reserve Bank of India estimated national losses near $25 billion in 2025, a dramatic rise from earlier years. The central bank’s subsequent discussion paper, proposing a one-hour delay on payments above 10,000 rupees and tighter scrutiny of accounts receiving unusually large credits, amounts to an official acknowledgment that mule accounts, ordinary Indian bank accounts rented or recruited to receive and forward stolen funds, have become working infrastructure. Many account holders were themselves deceived by fake loan applications; that fact does not alter the function those accounts perform once they enter the pipeline. American victims are not abstractions either. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded cryptocurrency fraud losses exceeding $11 billion in 2025. Within that total, cryptocurrency investment fraud, the category that covers most pig- butchering schemes, accounted for $7.2 billion, up 24 percent year-on-year. Average losses per
The president, like Hegseth, prizes loyalty and obedience over experience
erations have consumed an estimated two-thirds of the prewar US inventory of Patriot interceptors — degrading US strategic readiness as well as putting strains on Nato forces in Europe and increasing Ukraine’s vulnerability to Russian attack. Several members of the US military top brass reportedly warned Hegseth last month that prolonging large-scale operations against Iran was unsustainable and could weaken the US ability to confront threats elsewhere. Trump’s insistence in maintaining all military options open in Iran has kept more than 50,000 troops on alert for months. A symbol of the strain on resources is the fact that America now has no carrier strike group in the Asia-Pacific — a stunning breakdown of logistics management for an administration that said it would prioritise that region. The Japanbased USS George Washington was diverted to the Middle East in August to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln — which has just docked in Thailand after a more than ninemonth stint at sea that far exceeded standard deployment limits. The Pentagon has rejected claims of debilitating weapons shortages and called suggestions that it is in disarray “completely baseless”. It insists it is continuing reforms aimed at ending bureaucratic inertia and restoring strict civilian control. Yet Driscoll’s departure raises questions about the future of the broader modernisation he was overseeing, and whether Hegseth’s desire for centralised control is now undermining the technological transformation he originally commissioned. The defence secretary has emphasised his back-to-basics approach, focused on discipline, fitness and promotion of a manly “warrior ethos”. Given Hegseth’s own apparent political ambitions, that approach seems designed, too, to chime with Trump’s own vision for the military. The president, like Hegseth, prizes loyalty and obedience over experience. The longer this continues, however, the more America’s military readiness may be called into question.
Many are trafficking victims in the fullest sense, held under threat of violence inside compounds such as Shunda Park. Yet an industry that extracts $10 billion a year from American households, and far larger sums globally according to recent UN estimates, does not function on Burmese or Cambodian territory alone. It requires bodies to staff the shifts and channels to move the cash. On both counts the trail returns repeatedly to the labor-exporting economies of South and Southeast Asia. Washington can continue seizing domains and restraining cryptocurrency. Delhi and Jakarta can continue flying nationals home. Neither approach addresses the pipelines that operate inside their own borders: the recruitment networks that feed Myawaddy and Cambodia’s border towns, and the mule-account networks that return the proceeds to circulation. Treat those networks as secondary or collateral, and the compounds will restaff and reroute faster than any sequence of press releases can keep pace. The problem is structural. It is embedded in the political economy of labor migration, weak financial oversight, and the ease with which digital platforms can be weaponized across jurisdictions. Until the domestic segments of the pipeline receive the same sustained attention now directed at international operators and Cambodian payment platforms, the seizures and repatriations will remain necessary but ultimately insufficient measures against an industry that has already demonstrated its capacity to adapt.
The AfD’s win in Germany is a dark day for Europe
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THE GUARDIAN Cas MuddE
HE far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) narrowly failed to secure an outright majority in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt. But nobody should take comfort from that. The party still won by a landslide. Decades of far-right election gains have made them seem normal to the point where only the biggest victories are deemed newsworthy. But 44% of the vote for a party that is officially classified as “extreme right” is not normal. It is a black day for European democracy, even if it occurs in a small east German state. While Saxony-Anhalt (and Germany itself) may have dodged the worst outcome because the AfD won’t automatically fulfil its ambition of forming the first far-right state government in Germany since the Nazi era, there is no reason to assume it will be so lucky at the next election. Neither will other German states, such as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in two weeks’ time, or other countries, such as France next year. No country is immune from the far right and, perhaps even more worryingly, no far-right party or politician is too extreme for political success (as the US has shown). We must therefore update our analyses and strategies. Although Saxony-Anhalt, and east Germany in general, is an extreme case, it reflects similar trends in the rest of Europe. Far-right parties are going from strength to strength, with old dominant parties decimated, and party systems fragmented. Consequently, coalition formation is becoming increasingly complicated, particularly if we want to keep the far right out of power. In many countries, provinces and cities, most democratic parties are having to govern together to exclude the far right. This often leads to inefficient and unstable coalitions, in turn feeding yet more political dissatisfaction and far-right support. Sunday’s results will only intensify an ongoing debate in Germany about the so-called Brandmauer (a firewall maintained by mainstream parties against cooperating with the AfD). Actually, Germany is one of the few EU countries to still have a far-right cordon sanitaire. Throughout Europe, from Italy to Sweden, far-right parties have been normalised and integrated into the political mainstream. In most cases, the (rightwing) parties that collaborate with the far right claim that
Far-right parties are going from strength to strength, with old dominant parties decimated The average score of the far right now is roughly 25% across Europe
the latter have moderated and are now “conservative” – a claim that is factually wrong, but increasingly popular with the electorates and members of these parties, and much of the media. This will remain almost impossible to claim in Germany. The AfD is among the most extreme parties in Europe, and its most successful branches, including the one in SaxonyAnhalt, are among the AfD’s most extreme. This will not prevent some rightwing politicians from claiming that the AfD is less of a problem than the left, and there is even a fear that some parliamentarians from the conservative CDU in Saxony-Anhalt will defect to give the AfD a majority in the state. On the other side of the political spectrum, calls for an AfD ban will become even louder, and while this might be legally possible, it could create a massive popular backlash, going well beyond Saxony-Anhalt. Both approaches share a too-limited interpretation of the problem. The idea of maintaining the Brandmauer is that the only (or main) problem is outside the system. Yet the system is falling apart as it is. Yes, the AfD (and the far right in general) is a fundamental threat to liberal democracy, but so is the fact that a sizeable and growing part of the population no longer feels represented by its politicians. While many still come out to vote for democracy, they increasingly vote against a party rather than for one. Even worse, most mainstream politicians have accepted that they are unpopular and try to remain in power by arguing that they are the lesser evil and mobilising people to come out to vote against the far right. Ultimately, this is unsustainable. If democratic parties do not develop inspiring manifestos for what they want to achieve in government, liberal democrats will refuse to come out to vote and the far right will win a majority of votes – even if they represent only a minority of the population. Developing such manifestos will require realism from politicians, but also from the media and voters. In fragmented party systems with large far-right parties, no party will be able to implement most of its preferred policies. There are no majorities for social democratic, Christian democratic or Green parties and policies. But this should also not be the main concern at this moment.
The writer is freelance columnist
There are no majorities for social democratic, Christian democratic or Green parties and policies
When the far right gets close to governing alone, or dominating coalitions, the main goal should be to strengthen liberal democracy – in terms of institutions and values. This should be something that all liberal democratic parties can agree on. This does not simply entail strengthening democratic institutions – the judiciary and regulating social media, for example – and promoting inclusion and tolerance. It also means listening to the many concerns and preferences of the majority of voters who do not vote for the far right. In other words, mainstream politicians need to go beyond crime and immigration and focus also on such things as increasing housing provision and public spending, limiting economic and income inequality, fighting the climate crisis and strengthening European integration. And it means accepting that you don’t get everything you want – now or in the near future. Of course, many countries are not as close to a far-right majority as Saxony-Anhalt is. But we should not forget that in the state’s 2021 election, the AfD had “only” 20% – and the average score of the far right now is roughly 25% across Europe. In other words, there may not be much time left. And, as we can see in countries such as Hungary and the US, the democratic struggle becomes harder and less fair once the far right establishes power. Democratic politicians must therefore realise that today’s key fight is for democracy, rather than for party or power. This requires both fighting the far right and strengthening democracy. Neither the banning nor the normalisation of the far right can achieve this. Democracy neither be strengthened in isolation, nor by the politics of fear. It requires a collective effort from democratic politicians, citizens and journalists, who must show realism, resilience and restraint. And the time for that fight is now.
Cas Mudde is the author of The Far Right Today, and is the Stanley Wade Shelton UGAF professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia.
06 NEWS
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | ISLAMABAD
IRAN CAN 'GROUND' AMERICAN FORCES ANYWHERE: IRANIAN NAVAL COMMANDER
I
TEHRAN
Agencies
RAN'S Navy commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said on Monday that the US was “deeply concerned about Iran’s operational initiatives” and warned that Tehran’s military could “ground” Washington’s forces wherever necessary, state news agency IRNA reported. According to IRNA, Irani stressed the need for the country’s armed forces to remain ready for the “Khorramshahr ahead”, recalling the defence of Khorramshahr during the Iran-Iraq War and referring to possible future battles. “Our main mission is to prevent the enemy from achieving its goals and objectives, and with God’s help, we will succeed in this path, because the enemy’s movements are monitored moment by moment,” he added.
IRAN'S ENEMIES DID NOT EXPECT IT TO TAKE WAR TO A 'REGIONAL LEVEL': DEPUTY ARMY CHIEF: Iran's Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari, said on Monday that Iran’s enemies did not expect it to change the “equations of war and expand the battlefield to a regional level,” Press TV reported. “The Strait of Hormuz, one of the re-
gion’s key strategic points, has the capacity to significantly influence regional and global equations. By leveraging its strategic capabilities, the Islamic Republic of Iran was able to have a significant impact on the world’s economic equations,” Heydari was quoted as saying.
SAUDI ARAMCO'S JAZAN OIL FACILITIES ATTACKED, SAYS FT: Saudi Aramco's Jazan oil refinery was reportedly attacked on Monday, and the damage was being assessed, Reuters reported, citing The Financial Times, which cited two people with knowledge of the matter. Earlier, the United Arab Emirates is building alternative routes for its energy exports and trade to ensure they are not "held hostage" by the ongoing war, UAE Presidential Adviser Anwar Gargash said. "Our energy exports will not be held hostage, nor will our trade and economic activity," Gargash told
China, Qatar agree to deepen strategic ties, expand economic cooperation BEIJING
sTAFF RePORT
Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Monday agreed to further strengthen strategic cooperation and expand collaboration in energy, infrastructure, technology and finance. During their meeting in Beijing, Li described Qatar as an important strategic partner of China in the Middle East and Gulf region, saying Beijing was ready to enhance communication and coordination with Doha and firmly support each other on issues concerning their core interests. He called for greater alignment of development strategies and high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly in traditional and renewable energy, infrastructure, artificial intelligence and financial services. Li also welcomed Qatari investment in China and encouraged Chinese companies to expand investment in Qatar. He urged Doha to continue providing a favourable environment for Chinese enterprises and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects operating in the country. The Chinese premier also called for expanded people-to-people and cultural exchanges, including cooperation in culture, education and giant panda conservation and research.
the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi. While acknowledging that relations with Iran could eventually recover, Gargash warned that rebuilding trust after the attacks could take decades. He also criticised Gulf Arab states for failing to mount a coordinated response to Iran, saying they had been unable to translate shared concerns into a unified strategy. "Freedom of navigation is not a concession to be granted, nor a principle to be renegotiated under pressure," Gargash said, adding that any long-term resolution must include credible guarantees against further Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab states.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH OMAN TO DETERMINE HORMUZ SAFE ROUTES IN FINAL STAGE: BAGHAEI: Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Monday that negotiations with Oman to determine safe routes in the Strait of Hormuz had reached the final stage, Iran's ISNA reported. It added that the spokesman said it was likely that, within the coming days, the two countries' agreement on establishing a temporary safe route will be registered with the International Maritime Organisation. "I hope that once again, some ill-intentioned parties do not interfere in this process," ISNA quoted Baghaei as saying.
Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina loses right to appeal death sentence: prosecutor DHAKA
Agencies
Bangladesh’s former premier Sheikh Hasina can no longer appeal her death sentence after the 30-day deadline for filing an appeal expired, the chief prosecutor said on Monday. “Those sentenced to death by the court, including Sheikh Hasina, who have not appealed within 30 days of the verdict, will no longer have the opportunity to do so,” Md Aminul Islam told reporters. Last November, Hasina was sentenced to death by the Dhakabased International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity and for her role in a brutal crackdown during the 2024 uprising that ousted her government. At least 1,400 people were killed and thousands were injured in the uprising by Hasina’s security forces and supporters of her Awami League party, according to the UN. “Now, what is left is the execution of the verdict,” said the prosecutor. However, he said, the “government has the absolute inherent power to suspend or cancel any punishment”. She is in self-imposed exile, living in India after fleeing the country. Hasina has vowed to return to Bangladesh in December.
NEWS 07
Tuesday, 8 September 2026 | ISLAMABAD
CORPORATE CORNER
AdStreet Connects Pakistan’s Marketing Industry with Global Voices at Dragons of Pakistan 2026
KARACHI STAFF REPORT
AdStreet brought Dragons of Pakistan to the country three years ago, and what began as a platform connecting Pakistan’s creative industry with the wider Dragons of Asia network has grown into a major celebration of advertising, marketing and creativity. Led by Syed Saad Hashmi, CEO of AdStreet, the initiative has continued to grow each year, creating greater opportunities for Pakistani creative work to gain international recognition. The 2026 edition, Kashmir Presents Dragons of Pakistan 2026, powered by National Foods Limited, was held on August 29 at Pearl Continental, bringing together leading agencies, brands, marketers, media professionals and creative minds from across Pakistan. The event welcomed Mike Da Silva, Founder of Dragons of Asia, and Michelle Da Silva, strengthening the connection between Pakistan’s creative community and the wider international creative landscape. Their presence brought an international perspective to the evening and highlighted the growing place of Pakistani creativity within the global conversation.
SE Fruits & Vegetables gets PSX approval for IPO, set to raise up to Rs1.92b KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
SE Fruits & Vegetables Limited has received approval from the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) for its initial public offering, paving the way for the horticulture exporter to raise between Rs1.2 billion and Rs1.92 billion to finance working capital and expand its processing and export capabilities.The company plans to offer 30 million ordinary shares, representing 32.01% of its postIPO paid-up capital, at a floor price of Rs40 per share. The strike price can rise by up to 60% through book building to a maximum of Rs64 per share.At the floor price, the IPO would raise Rs1.2 billion, while proceeds could reach Rs1.92 billion at the upper end of the price band.Under the offering structure, 75%, or 22.5 million shares, will be offered through book building, while the remaining 25%, or 7.5 million shares, will be reserved for the general public. Topline Securities Limited and Growth Securities Limited are acting as lead managers to the issue.The Sargodha-based company, formerly operating as Shaheen Enterprises, has been exporting kinnow, mango and potato since 1998 to markets across the Middle East, Far East, South Asia and Central Asia.Around Rs940.2 million, or 78% of funds raised at the floor price, has been earmarked for working capital. Another Rs153.8 million is planned for cold-chain and processing expansion, Rs50 million for international offices in the UAE and Uzbekistan, Rs30 million for ERP and assettracking systems, and Rs26 million for solar energy and grid-related investment.
Strong Coordination Between Industry and Labour Department Vital for Economic Growth; Zero-Tolerance Policy Against Corruption: Labour Secretary Sajid Jamal Abro
KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Sindh Labour and Human Resources Secretary Sajid Jamal Abro has said that the Sindh government is maintaining continuous engagement with industrialists to promote industrial development, create employment opportunities and protect workers’ rights, adding that coordination between the Labour Department and industrial establishments will be further strengthened to resolve industryrelated issues on a priority basis.He said the government’s objective was not only to ensure workers’ legal rights and provide them with a better working environment but also to facilitate industrialists in carrying out business activities. He expressed these views while addressing industrialists during his visit to the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI).
CM MARYAM NAWAZ PAYS TRIBUTE TO PAF MARTYRS, VETERANS, SHAHEENS AND VALIANT PERSONNEL ON AIR FORCE DAY
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LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday paid rich tribute to the martyrs and veterans of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and saluted its Shaheens and valiant personnel on Air Force Day. The chief minister offered special prayers for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs and for their bereaved families. In her special message on Air Force Day, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif paid tribute to the professional capabilities of the PAF’s Shaheens. She said that PAF heroes, including Shaheed Rashid Minhas, had written remarkable chapters of courage, bravery and valour in the skies. She said that last May, the Pakistan Air Force shot down eight of the enemy’s most advanced fighter aircraft, once again raising the green and white flag of Pakistan with pride. Maryam Nawaz Sharif said Air Force Day was a symbol of national unity, unwavering resolve and the spirit of patriotism.
She said the role of the Pakistan Air Force in safeguarding Pakistan’s airspace was unforgettable. CM Maryam’s Anti-Corruption Drive Intensifies; Action Taken Against 54 Officers and Officials: Azma Bokhari Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari has said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has declared a jihad against corruption, and eliminating
corruption from all government departments across Punjab remains her mission. An indiscriminate crackdown against corruption is under way across Punjab, with 54 officers and officials so far suspended or dismissed from service. Azma Bokhari said that 48 officers and officials had been arrested in the Food Department alone, while six employees had been dismissed from service.
THE ECHO OF 67-NIL ON PAKISTAN AIR FORCE DAY IZMI HERLANI
The sound of a fighter engine has always carried a familiar message across Pakistan’s skies: the nation is awake, alert and defended. But in the battlespace of the 21st century, the sound of war is no longer confined to the roar of aircraft or the impact of missiles. It can be silent. Invisible. Measured in disrupted networks, severed digital links and systems suddenly rendered ineffective. That is the powerful new dimension captured in the Pakistan Air Force’s latest Defence Day song, “Fizaon K Pasbaan”—a musical tribute to the guardians of Pakistan’s skies but also a visual statement about how those guardianship responsibilities have expanded into the digital domain. Released on 7 September, the song arrives as Pakistan commemorates the legacy of its air warriors and reflects on Marka-e-Haq, the May 2025 military confrontation in which Pakistan presented its response as a multi-domain campaign combining Air Power, Electronic Warfare, Space, Artificial Intelligence, Information dominance and Cyber capability. Contemporary accounts describe Operation Divine Bytes as the PAF-spearheaded cyber component of that wider campaign. And at the heart of that story sits a striking number: 67–Nil.
In Pakistani defence commentary, the figure represents an ICT destruction score of 67–0, associated with operations against around 100 Indian organisations and 4,400 ICT elements. The figure has become a shorthand for a battlefield where victory is no longer measured merely by aircraft destroyed or territory captured, but by the ability to penetrate, disrupt and outmanoeuvre an adversary across interconnected digital systems. The significance of Operation Divine Bytes lies precisely here. While fighter aircraft, Killer Drones and Loitering Munitions operated in the physical battlespace, another battle was unfolding inside networks. Independent international analysts reported a very meticulous
New initiative to facilitate safer evacuation of injured Baltoro porters KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
The Baltistan Association of Adventure Tour Operators (BAATO) and Petronet Aviation have agreed on a plan to evacuate injured porters from the Baltoro Corridor using the empty return legs of helicopter cargo-sling flights.The agreement was reached during a meeting in Skardu between Petronet Aviation’s Sohail Zarar Ali Khan, BAATO President Ayaz Shigri, Secretary Sakhawat Hussain and member tour operators.Under the arrangement, helicopters flying cargo to the Baltoro region will be used to bring injured porters back on their otherwise empty return journeys. The two sides also agreed to coordinate mountain search and rescue, medical evacuation and cargo operations through a common operational system.“Too many injured porters have had no way off the glacier,” Sohail Zarar Ali Khan said.“The helicopter is already going up with cargo. It comes back empty. That empty leg is how we bring them home,” he said, adding that the Petronet Aviation-Rescue 1122 Gilgit-Baltistan MoU covering helicopter search and rescue and medical evacuation.
cyber campaign directed at Indian communications, government systems, energy infrastructure, surveillance networks and logistical architecture. One publicly reported incident involved the compromise of a Madhya Pradesh BJP website, which displayed a message referring to the PAF Cyber Force and Operation Bunyan Al-Marsous. The battlefield had changed. The objective was no longer simply to destroy a platform. It was to degrade a system. A communication network can be more valuable than a single command post. A disrupted data link can affect decision-making without a bomb being dropped. A compromised digital node can create uncertainty far beyond the physical point of penetration. That is the essence of modern multi-domain warfare: the ability to generate effects across domains simultaneously. And this is where the narrative of “Fizaon K Pasbaan” becomes particularly relevant. The song’s central imagery of the paasbaan—the guardian—can now be interpreted beyond the traditional image of a fighter pilot patrolling the skies. Today’s guardian may be flying a JF-17 or J-10C, operating an airborne early-warning system, monitoring an electromagnetic spectrum, analysing satellite imagery—or defending and exploiting the digital battlespace.
SUPARCO is hosting the fourth regional symposium on ‘Space4Climate’ today KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
The Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), through its Space Applications Center for Climate Sciences (SACCS), is hosting the fourth regional symposium on the theme Space4Climate – Coastal Dynamics, Mangroves and Sea Water Intrusion, Drought & Heatwave Hazard Assessment, Waterways Dynamics, Landcover Dynamics, Crop Monitoring, today here at a local hotel.This initiative brings together policymakers, scientists, researchers, development partners, academia, and industry leaders to harness space technologies for Pakistan's climate challenges. Following successful events in Peshawar and Gilgit, the third and final symposium concluded in Lahore.The symposium will serve as a national platform for dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange on the use of satellite-based Earth observation, geospatial technologies, and climate intelligence to strengthen evidence-based policymaking, enhance disaster resilience, and support sustainable development.
PM&DC President Visits AFPGMI, Briefed on Academic and Training Activities
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj visited the Armed Forces Post Graduate Medical Institute (AFPGMI) on Monday and was briefed on the institute’s academic, training and public health activities.The PM&DC President was received at the Administrative Block by the Commandant, Deputy Commandant and Director Training, and held an interaction with the Commandant.The President was subsequently given a briefing on the institute’s academic and training structure at the MCR Administrative Block, which was attended by senior officers and heads of departments. An interactive session with faculty members followed the briefing.Prof Dr Rizwan Taj also visited the Faruki Auditorium and MBS Library, where he was briefed on the facilities and their role in supporting academic activities.During his visit to the Training Wing, the PM&DC president interacted with faculty and MSc students.At the Department of Public Health, he received a briefing on the department’s activities and witnessed a demonstration of the Disease Early Warning System (DEWS) dashboard.The visit concluded with Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj recorded his remarks in the visitors’ book. STAFF REPORT
Disciplinary proceedings against 14 food controllers are also under way. The Information Minister said that a contractor was arrested for overcharging at the parking facility of Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, while the overcharging contract at THQ Hospital, Chichawatni, had been cancelled. Azma Bokhari said corruption had become a social menace, and the Punjab government had initiated effective measures to eliminate it. She stressed that the crackdown against corruption was being carried out without discrimination and that no one would be unfairly targeted. She said the people stood with Maryam Nawaz in the fight against corruption and that the Punjab government’s crackdown was receiving widespread public appreciation. Azma Bokhari said Maryam Nawaz had ensured implementation of every decision she had taken and had never been deterred by criticism or negative propaganda. The Information Minister said false propaganda and personal attacks had not weakened Maryam Nawaz; instead, they had made her stronger and more resilient.
CDA Plantation Drive Continues in Full Swing to Make Islamabad more Greener, Beautiful and Environment Friendly Capital ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Capital Development Authority (CDA), through its Environment Wing, is continuing its plantation drive across Islamabad with full momentum to further enhance the capital’s green character, more beautiful major roads and avenues, improve environmental quality, and promote a healthier and more sustainable urban environment.As part of the ongoing plantation campaign, the CDA Environment Wing has planted Sapium trees along 7th Avenue, in Islamabad to further strengthening the city’s green landscape and adding to the natural beauty of one of Islamabad’s important road corridors.The plantation of trees along major avenues is part of CDA’s broader efforts to enhance Islamabad’s urban environment through systematic plantation, landscape improvement and expansion of green cover. The initiative aims not only to beautify the city but also to contribute towards a cleaner, healthier and more environment-friendly capital.The Environment Wing CDA is undertaking plantation activities at carefully identified locations while ensuring appropriate landscaping and maintenance measures. The selection of suitable tree species is intended to strengthen Islamabad’s existing green belt system and create an attractive and sustainable landscape along roads, medians, green areas and other public spaces.Trees play a vital role in improving the quality of urban life. Increased green cover helps absorb carbon dioxide, filter pollutants, provide shade, reduce the impact of urban heat, support biodiversity and contribute to a healthier atmosphere. A well maintained green landscape also enhances the visual appeal of the city and provides citizens with a more pleasant and refreshing environment.The CDA Environment Wing is therefore continuing plantation activities as a sustained and long term initiative rather than treating plantation as a seasonal exercise.
Chief Of The Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf Ni, Ni(M), T Bt On The Occasion Of Navy Day 8th September 2026 KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
Nations are not only defined by their geographical size or quantum of resources but also by the strength of their resolve. At the time of its inception, Pakistan Navy was fully cognizant of its limited resources, constrained operational capability and enemy’s obdurate insistence to undermine the stability of our newly established state. Despite the modest material strength, Pakistan Navy, driven by an unshakeable commitment and staunch determination to defend the motherland, instilled in its men the spirit of sacrifice, professionalism, and valour, while relentlessly striving to strengthen its operational capability. This steadfast resolve echoed as a resounding pronouncement on 8 September 1965, when Pakistan Navy executed the historic Operation SOMNATH, striking the adversary's coastal radar installations at Dwarka. The operation was not just a successful naval strike; it was a testament of Pakistan Navy's offensive capability as well as a demonstration of its strategic foresight and indomitable spirit. It shattered adversary’s sense of invulnerability and demonstrated to the world that a resolute maritime force, driven by courage and conviction, could achieve decisive effects despite numerical and material constraints. Operation SOMNATH thus, became an immortal chapter in Pakistan's history, symbolizing the unwavering resolve of a nation that stands ready to defend its sovereignty against every challenge. The legacy of courage and conviction established during Operation SOMNATH remains unyielding, reflected once again in Pakistan Navy’s successful deterrence against the Indian Navy during Marka-e-Haq.
GLOWING TRIBUTES PAID TO PAF MARTYRS ON AIR FORCE DAY
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
PRAYER TIMINGS
NEWS
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The country’s political and military leadership on Monday paid tribute to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) martyrs and lauded the force’s role in defending the country as Pakistan observed Air Force Day. A Martyrs’ Day ceremony was held at Air Headquarters in Islamabad, where Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu paid tribute to PAF personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). He said the sacrifices of PAF martyrs had placed a “profound responsibility” on the present generation, describing them as enduring symbols of courage, sacrifice and national resolve. “Their legacy reminds us that the defence of our motherland is a sacred trust, which we shall continue to uphold with steadfast commitment,” he said. The PAF also observed Martyrs’ Day at its bases across the country. The day began with special prayers and Quran Khawani for those who died in the 1965 and 1971 wars, the martyrs of Marka-e-Haq and other PAF personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice since Pakistan’s independence. Air Chief Marshal Sidhu later laid a floral wreath at the PAF Martyrs’ Monument and offered Fateha for the fallen personnel.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the PAF’s history of sacrifice and its performance during the May 2025 conflict with India. In his message, the prime minister said the PAF had defeated the adversary during Marka-e-Haq through bold leadership, tactical brilliance of combat crews, effective planning and coordinated employment of multi-domain warfare capabilities. He said the capabilities had been developed through a strategy focused on
EU warns Pakistan GSP+ benefits at risk as compliance concerns mount
KP CM Afridi calls for week-long Karachi shutdown on Sept 27 KARACHI
PROFIT
MONITORING REPORT
modernisation and indigenisation. “The nation is proud that Pakistan Air Force once again upheld the glorious legacy of fighting the outnumbered, which has always been its hallmark,” he said. PM Shehbaz paid tribute to PAF personnel who had laid down their lives in the line of duty, saying the force had a proud history of sacrifice, valour and professionalism. He recalled the role of PAF aviators during the 1965 war, saying they had demonstrated courage and resolve in de-
fending Pakistan’s airspace and sacrificed their lives for the country. The prime minister said the PAF had demonstrated professional capability and dominance in aerial conflicts over the decades and had consistently responded to the nation’s call with courage. He expressed confidence that the force would continue to defend Pakistan’s sovereignty and airspace while wishing it continued professional success and progress. President Asif Ali Zardari also paid tribute to PAF personnel for their service and sacrifices, describing their performance in aerial conflicts over the decades as outstanding. In his message, the president said the founding fathers of the PAF had laid the foundation of an elite organisation in accordance with Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of an air force that was “second to none”. He said the PAF had pursued excellence across all domains and, in coordination with the other armed services, played a decisive role in Marka-e-Haq. President Zardari attributed the force’s performance to bold leadership, tactical brilliance of combat crews, excellent planning and the coordinated use of multi-domain warfare capabilities. He said these capabilities had been developed through a comprehensive strategy of modernisation and indigenisation.
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Pakistan cannot take its Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) trade benefits for granted as it prepares to seek inclusion in the European Union’s successor preferential trade regime amid concerns over compliance with human rights and governance commitments, Dawn reported, citing EU Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis. The current EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences framework expires at the end of 2026. Existing beneficiaries will continue receiving preferences during a transition period until December 31, 2028, but this does not guarantee Pakistan’s continuation under the new regime. “The situation is not certain. And, of course, GSP+ preferences cannot be taken for granted,” Karoblis said, adding that the government would need to improve its performance as part of the reapplication process. The warning carries significant economic implications for Pakistan, which has benefited from GSP+ since 2014 and is the scheme’s largest beneficiary. In 2024, Pakistan received nearly €732 million in tariff exemptions, while €7.115 billion of its exports utilised preferential access. The EU accounts for around 28% of Pakistan’s total exports, with nearly 90% of exports to the bloc eligible for GSP+ preferences. Textiles and clothing account for roughly 70-76% of Pakistan’s exports to the European market. A European Commission assessment covering 2023-25 found compliance problems and regression in several areas, while noting that legislative and administrative measures had often not translated into improvements on the ground. Concerns identified included enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, freedom of expression, minority and journalists’ rights, judicial independence, access to justice and forced labour. Karoblis said there were “serious doubts” within the European Commission about the effective implementation of conventions underpinning the scheme, although no determination had yet been made on whether Pakistan had reached the threshold for partial or full temporary suspension of preferences. The ambassador also pointed to concerns over recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the Punjab Defamation Act in relation to freedom of expression, while saying blasphemy-related cases remained an issue in discussions with Islamabad. Pakistan’s Foreign Office has maintained that the European Commission's assessment did not present “a sufficiently balanced picture of Pakistan’s performance”. FO spox Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan appreciated the commission’s recognition of its continued compliance under 27 international conventions and remained committed to implementing the conventions underpinning GSP+. The compliance bar will rise under the successor regime, which expands the number of international conventions from 27 to 32. Pakistan has already ratified the five additional conventions, according to Karoblis, but their effective implementation will be the key requirement.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday urged the people of Sindh to join PTI’s September 27 protest, calling for a week-long shutdown of Karachi. Addressing a lawyers’ convention organised under the Sindh High Court Bar Association, Afridi invited Sindh residents to join the protest in Karachi rather than travelling to Islamabad. “I am inviting you to the September 27 protest. But you have to sit with us. You don't have to come to D-Chowk. Come with us to Karachi. For a week, Karachi should be closed,” he said. Afridi’s convoy reached Karachi early Monday after travelling for more than six hours. His visit had been delayed after authorities blocked several major arteries on Sunday, causing widespread traffic disruption across the city. The PTI leader had vowed to reach Karachi and launch a street movement, saying he would not leave Sindh until the objective was achieved. Speaking alongside PTI Sec-
retary General Salman Akram Raja and Karachi Bar Association President Aamir Nawaz, Afridi said people would have to stand up against those who considered themselves above the law. He said the PTI had “won only once” and urged people to make another effort for themselves, their children and the country. Referring to PTI founder Imran Khan, Afridi said there was no need to worry about him, claiming he could be released within half an hour. He said Imran could return to power or leave the country but was refusing to strike a deal because, according to him, “leaders are born once in a century”. Afridi described Imran as an unprecedented political leader and said he was continuing his struggle despite what he called a “cruel regime”. “It is our duty to stand up for ourselves, for our children, for our Pakistan and for the people of Pakistan. On September 27, you will see the revolution of the people. You will see a sea,” he said. The KP chief minister claimed that people from across Pakistan would participate in the September 27 protest and predicted that
no party would be able to defeat PTI in Sindh for decades. He said the public response he had witnessed in Sindh was stronger than the political enthusiasm he had seen in KP before 2013, describing it as a sign of an impending political change. Afridi also criticised the Sindh government over what he described as attempts to obstruct his visit, saying workers had been arrested and roads blocked with containers. He referred to a social media post by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari welcoming his arrival in Sindh and questioned how provincial ministers could allegedly act contrary to the party chairman’s position. “Workers are being arrested. Our mothers and sisters are being disrespected here. Either there is someone else’s government in Sindh, or yours is not,” he said. Afridi also claimed to have witnessed resentment among Sindh residents over what he described as attempts to divide the province. He pledged to stand with the people of Sindh and said he was prepared to sacrifice his life for what he termed their rights.
ATC grants 21-day physical remand of PTI leader Hammad Azhar LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday granted police a 21-day physical remand of PTI leader Hammad Azhar in a case related to the attack on Jinnah House during the May 9, 2023 riots. Azhar was presented before ATC Judge Sardar Muhammad Akram by Sarwar Road police amid tight security and the deployment of a heavy contingent around the court premises. The investigating officer had sought a 60-day physical remand, arguing that Azhar had remained wanted in the case for a considerable period and was recently ar-
rested. Police said his custody was required to interrogate him and investigate his alleged involvement in the attack. The IO also sought permission to conduct a photogrammetric test on Azhar and a forensic examination of his social media accounts, claiming that the attack on Jinnah House, the residence of the Lahore corps commander, had been carried out as part of a conspiracy. Azhar’s counsel, Barrister Abuzar Salman Niazi, opposed the request, arguing that despite police claims that his client had been in hiding for three years, no evidence had been collected during that period. He contended that the investigation officer had failed to per-
form his duties for three years and that there was no material on record justifying physical remand. The lawyer also pointed out that no identification parade of Azhar had been conducted and that he was brought before the court with his face covered. He further alleged that the PTI leader was not being treated appropriately. The court subsequently directed police to treat Azhar appropriately. Judge Akram observed that suspects should be treated in a manner that would not cause embarrassment to police when they had to face them later. Niazi further argued that Azhar had been implicated on the basis of a co-suspect’s statement.
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Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Monday said the government did not want to impose any additional burden on the people and would welcome all viable proposals aimed at providing relief to the public. He was speaking at a meeting with a delegation of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), led by JI Naib Ameer Liaquat Baloch, held to discuss the petroleum levy and rising petrol prices in detail, a news release said. Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Rana Sanaullah, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani and senior officials also attended the meeting. Ahsan Iqbal said it had been agreed in Lahore that detailed discussions on the pe-
troleum levy would be held in Islamabad. “We all care about the public interest. The government does not want to put any additional burden on the people,” he said, adding that the government would itself be pleased if any relief could be provided to the people. He said petrol prices had declined when relations between the United States and Iran improved, while prices had to be increased due to the subsequent escalation of tensions. “The meeting was held today to review in detail the Jamaat-e-Islami’s working regarding the petroleum levy,” he said. Ahsan Iqbal said the country faced certain economic realities that could not be denied. He clarified that the government did not determine the policy rate, as the State Bank of Pakistan was autonomous in this regard. “The State Bank’s duly constituted policy board decides the policy rate after taking inflation into account,” he added.
The minister said the JI’s proposals related to different ministries and their views would be sought before taking further decisions. He said after obtaining feedback from the relevant institutions, the second round of negotiations would be held within three days. Ahsan Iqbal said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif desired that the benefits of economic recovery should translate into relief for the people. “The government will welcome workable proposals and, where proposals are not feasible, it will explain the reasons,” he added. Speaking on the occasion, Rana Sanaullah appreciated the JI for keeping the door open for negotiations on every issue, describing it as a positive approach. Liaquat Baloch said negotiations were the only ultimate solution to national issues, adding that the JI also knew that protests were not a solution. He said the party was pleased that the
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Senator Mushtaq Ahmad, 95 others granted bail in Islamabad protest case irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Monday granted post-arrest bail to former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan and 95 others in a case registered over a protest in support of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in Sector F-10. ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain approved the bail applications after hearing arguments from the prosecution and defence. All 96 suspects were granted bail against surety bonds of Rs5,000 each. The case was registered at Shalimar Police Station under provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act and other laws in connection with the protest. Former senator Ahmad was initially detained on July 30 after security personnel stopped him from entering AJK. His team alleged that he was held for more than 24 hours over his support for protests in the region. After his release, Ahmad returned to Islamabad and announced a gathering at F-10 Markaz, inviting members of the public, student organisations, journalists and Kashmiris residing in the capital. He had described the gathering as an event for “sympathy, affection, peace and reconciliation” for Kashmir. The protest subsequently led to the registration of a case against Ahmad and other participants at Shalimar Police Station. According to the first information report (FIR), registered on July 31 on the complaint of police officer Ghulam Murtaza, protesters had gathered at F-10 Markaz, allegedly blocked roads, resisted police and created a law-and-order situation. The FIR named Ahmad among the accused and alleged that his speeches contributed to the protesters’ actions and that the participants resisted attempts by police to disperse them. The case was registered under several provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code, including those relating to attempted murder, robbery, wrongful confinement, unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation and resistance to public servants. Sections 2 and 3 of the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024 and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act were also invoked. The accused had initially been granted three days’ physical remand on August 3 after the court rejected the prosecution’s request for 30 days. The remand was subsequently extended by four days on August 6. Prosecutors had argued that investigators required further custody to recover a vehicle and weapons allegedly linked to the case.
ECC approves Rs6.6 billion for 30 bullet-proof vehicles ahead of 2027 SCO summit PROFIT
WEB DESK
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Monday approved a Rs6.6 billion technical supplementary grant for the purchase of 30 bullet-proof vehicles for visiting heads of state during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in 2027. The Cabinet Division had requested Rs12.6 billion for the vehicles, but the committee approved Rs6.6 billion after discussing the proposal and directed the division to return separately with any additional funding requirement. The ECC instructed the Cabinet Division to undertake a detailed assessment of its needs and submit a revised case if further financing is required, according to a Finance Division statement. Pakistan is scheduled to host the SCO Council of Heads of State summit in Islamabad in September 2027. It assumed the council’s rotating chairmanship from Kyrgyzstan following the conclusion of the latest summit in Bishkek. The meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Finance Division, also approved Rs5 billion in seed funding for the Daanish Schools Authority Fund. The amount will be provided through a technical supplementary grant and maintained under an endowment framework. The committee separately allowed the continuation of gas supplies to Fatima Fertilizer and Agritech under the existing arrangement until September 30, 2026. It also approved recommendations addressing issues related to the export of donkey meat and hides from the Gwadar Free Zone, subject to safeguards proposed by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
Govt, JI discuss petroleum levy, fuel prices; second round in three days ISLAMABAD
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Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government had always given priority to negotiations. “People’s disappointment is increasing due to the rising prices of electricity, gas and petrol,” he said.
Published by Asad Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk
Liaquat Baloch acknowledged that Pakistan was facing constraints due to its commitments with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), saying many decisions were being taken by the government out of necessity.